Helmut Saenger

Infirm Home Guardsman

A gentle domestic servant, stricken with polio all his life and of no use to the army. As captain of the home guard, Helmut attempts to content himself with patrolling the town with his old walking stick and tattered antique uniform - but his deep shame and guilt in his own physical frailty is a powerful enemy.

Elfriede and Helmut quickly bond over their shared feelings of alienation on the home front. It is unclear if his respect for her eventual field service will ever be stronger than his jealousy... but he tries with all his heart to assist her.