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| “ | My work is very important to our country and to you. We're working very hard to make the world better for you. | „ |
| ~ Ralf to his son, Bruno. |
Officer Ralf is the main antagonist of John Boyne's 2006 historical fiction novel The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, its 2008 film adaptation of the same name and the overarching antagonist of its 2022 sequel All the Broken Places.
He was a Nazi soldier who was promoted to an SS Military Battalion Officer who owned the Nazi concentration camp near their house. Concurrently a dedicated family man, Ralf is also the husband of Elsa and the father of Gretel and Bruno.
He was portrayed in the film by David Thewlis, who also played King Einon in Dragonheart, V.M. Varga in Fargo, Ares in Wonder Woman, John Dee in The Sandman, Superintendent Grail in Enola Holmes 2 and the Rat King in The Amazing Maurice.
History[]
Ralf with his wife Elsa, his daughter Gretel and his son Bruno are living in Berlin, Germany. Ralf gets promoted to officer within the Schutzstaffel and moves with his family to another place. Here, Ralf works with the The Nazi Party in a camp. Bruno being curious and lonely goes outside and investigates his father's workplace.
Bruno ends up finding the camp but does not understand what's happening, instead, Bruno sees it as a farm, with farmers wearing striped pajamas. Bruno befriends a Jewish boy in the camp named Shmuel. The two became best friends, and spend most of their time together, playing at the fence of the camp.
Ralf ends up having constant arguments with Elsa, to the point of his wife calling him a monster. Bruno was trying to help his friend Shmuel, to the point of trying to find Shmuel's lost father at the camp. The movie ends with tons of Jews, Shmuel and Bruno dying in a gas chamber and Ralf is left to deal with the consequences of his actions. In the book, Ralf takes months to realize Bruno's fate and loses all will to live once he finds out, so when the Soviets come on to detain him after Germany loses the war, a despodent Ralf goes with them, now with nothing to lose.
Relationships[]
Family[]
- Unnamed father †
- Unnamed mother †
- Elsa - Wife and Widow †
- Gretel - Daughter
- Bruno † - Son
- Heidi Hargrave - Granddaughter
- Heidi's daughter - Greatgranddaughter †
- Oberon - Greatgreatgrandson
- Edgar Fernsby - Son-In-Law †
- Caden Fernsby - Grandson
- Eleanor Fernsby - Granddaughter-In-Law
- Unnamed greatgrandchild
Quotes[]
| “ | Ralf: Elsa, I was sworn to secrecy. Elsa: From your own wife? Ralf: I took an oath upon my life, do you understand? Elsa, you believe in this too. You want this country to be strong... Elsa: No, Ralf! No, not THAT! How could you? Ralf: Because I am a solider! Soldiers fight wars! Elsa: That isn't WAR! Ralf: That is a part of it, it's a vital part of it! The Fatherland we all desire, all of us, you included, cannot be achieved without work such as this! [Elsa begins to break down] Ralf: Elsa, Elsa! Elsa: Get away from me! GET AWAY FROM ME! |
„ |
| ~ Ralf's argument with Elsa after his wife discovered the true nature of the camp. |