Seventeen Moments of Spring

Main Characters and Their Development

• Maxim Maximovich Isaev (Stierlitz) - A Soviet intelligence officer working undercover in Nazi Germany under the name SS Standartenführer Max Otto von Stierlitz. His mission is to gather information on Nazi plans and prevent possible negotiations between Germany and the Western Allies. Stierlitz is intelligent, composed, and possesses outstanding analytical skills. Throughout the book, he faces numerous dangers and challenges, but thanks to his professionalism and intuition, he successfully completes his mission.
• Walter Schellenberg - Head of the VI Directorate of the RSHA (foreign intelligence). Schellenberg is a cunning and intelligent adversary who suspects Stierlitz but lacks sufficient evidence to expose him. In the book, he is portrayed as a man trying to maneuver between various political forces within the Third Reich.
• Martin Bormann - Head of the NSDAP Party Chancellery and one of Hitler's closest associates. Bormann is a ruthless and power-hungry individual seeking to consolidate his power in the final days of the war. He plays a significant role in the political intrigues within the Nazi leadership.
• Heinrich Müller - Head of the Gestapo. Müller is one of the main antagonists in the book, who suspects Stierlitz and attempts to expose him. He is ruthless and merciless, yet very intelligent and perceptive, making him a dangerous opponent for Stierlitz.
• Alexander Pleischner - A professor and Soviet intelligence agent working undercover in Germany. Pleischner is a man with a strong sense of duty and patriotism, but he is also vulnerable and susceptible to fear. His tragic fate in the book underscores the dangers and sacrifices associated with intelligence work.
• Eva Krause - Stierlitz's secretary, who assists him in his mission. Eva is a brave and loyal woman, willing to risk her life for the success of the operation. Her support and assistance play a crucial role in Stierlitz's actions.