Three Comrades

Main Characters and Their Development

• Robert Lohkamp - a young German World War I veteran struggling to adapt to civilian life after the war. Throughout the narrative, Robert transitions from despair and searching for life's meaning to deep attachment and friendship, which help him find a new purpose.
• Gottfried Lenz - Robert's friend, also a war veteran. He possesses artistic talent and seeks to find his place in life through art. Together with Robert and Otto, he forms a strong spirit of camaraderie that helps him overcome life's challenges.
• Otto Koster - the third friend in the trio of main characters. Otto is a mechanic, and his rational and practical outlook on life balances the emotional outpourings of Robert and Gottfried. He is a stabilizing force in their friendship and plays a key role in supporting their car manufacturing business.
• Patricia Hollmann - the woman Robert falls in love with. Patricia has an independent spirit and a free-spirited nature, significantly influencing Robert and helping him gain a new perspective on life. Their relationship is portrayed as complex yet profound, facing numerous obstacles, including Patricia's illness.