Heinz Kruger



Heinz Kruger is a minor character in Marvel's "Captain America" comics. He is a Nazi assassin, spy, and member of HYDRA in the employ of Johann Schmidt (better known as the Red Skull.) When Steve Rogers is first given the Super-Soldier formula, Kruger managed to infiltrate the lab as a government official named "Fred Clemson". However, he revealed his true allegiance when his bullet cut down Dr. Abraham Erskine, the creator of the formula. As Kruger attempted to escape, he turned on Erskine's electric Omniverter. He was electrocuted and killed.

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
Kruger appears in the film Captain America: The First Avenger, where he is portrayed by Richard Armitage. Like his comic book counterpart, Kruger is disguised as a government official named Fred Clemson and witnesses Steve Rogers' transformation into Captain America. Once the process is complete, Kruger detonates a bomb, and in the chaos, kills Abraham Erskine. However, unlike his comic book counterpart, Kruger is not killed in the lab, but manages to escape.

Despite Agent Peggy Carter managing to kill Kruger's getaway driver, he seemingly escapes, but Rogers escapes from the lab and pursues Kruger's car through the streets of Brooklyn, eventually latching onto the roof of Kruger's car. Failing to shake Rogers off, Kruger escapes from the car and takes a nearby child hostage, threatening to kill him if Rogers doesn't back off. When Rogers continues his pursuit, Kruger attempts to kill the boy, but his gun is out of ammo, so he instead throws the boy into the harbor as a distraction. The boy is, fortunately, unharmed and able to swim, and urges Rogers to "go get him."

With his mission mostly complete, Kruger boards an advanced HYDRA submarine and prepares to return to Germany; however, before he can, Rogers dives into the water and catches up with him. Shattering the sub's cockpit, he grabs Kruger, pulls him onto the dock, and subdues him. However, as Rogers prepares to interrogate him, he bites down on a concealed cyanide pill. In his dying breaths, Kruger says to Rogers: "I am the first of many; cut off one head, and two more will take its place. Hail HYDRA!" before finally dying.