TV-Series
Description
Gertrud Barkhorn, known as Trude or Trudy, hails from Karlsland and serves as the veteran second-in-command of the 501st Joint Fighter Wing. She is the second-highest-scoring ace pilot in the Karlsland Air Force, credited with over 250 confirmed Neuroi kills, an achievement that earned her the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. Her military career predates the Neuroi invasion, beginning with graduation from a military academy. She was initially assigned to Jagdgeschwader 2 (JG2) before transferring to Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG52). During the Gallia evacuation war, she commanded JG52 Gruppe II, though only she and Erica Hartmann survived to its end. She became a founding member of the 501st Joint Fighter Wing in June 1941 alongside Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke and Hartmann.
Gertrud displays a stoic and rational demeanor, prioritizing military discipline. However, her inherently passionate nature sometimes leads to emotional outbursts that cloud her situational awareness. She enforces punctuality and regulations strictly, especially with Erica Hartmann, but shows leniency towards longstanding comrades like Minna and Erica outside of duty. A defining characteristic is her "siscon" (sister complex) inclination, stemming from guilt over her younger sister Christiane Barkhorn falling into a coma after a wartime injury. This event triggered a period of reckless, near-suicidal behavior until her gradual recovery, influenced by Sergeant Yoshika Miyafuji. Gertrud now frequently visits the convalescing Chris, sending her souvenirs from deployments, and extends her protective instincts to characters resembling her sister, such as Yoshika Miyafuji (due to physical similarity) and Lynette Bishop (perceived as "raised by a gentle elder sister").
Her inherent magic, "Herculean Strength" (怪力〈超身体強化〉), belongs to the telekinesis lineage and vastly exceeds standard witch body enhancement. It circulates magic internally with minimal expenditure, enabling prolonged use. This power allows her to wield heavy armaments impractical for other witches, carry extra ammunition, tear iron chains, briefly lift multi-ton steel structures, and even halt high-speed Neuroi with bare hands. Despite poor general mechanical aptitude—especially in driving, which often requires Hartmann as her chauffeur—she adapts swiftly to Striker Units and frequently tests experimental models without prior training.
Gertrud's primary Striker Units include the FlakWolf Fw190D-6 prototype (liquid-cooled engine variant), a Messerscharf Bf109G-6 spare unit, and the mass-produced Fw190D-9. She piloted the experimental Messerscharf Me262V1 jet Striker but crashed due to a defect causing excessive magic drain. Her typical armaments comprise dual MG42 machine guns modified with 75-round drum magazines, though she also utilized MK108 cannons, BK-5 autocannons during jet testing, and Panzerfäuste in the movie. In *Road to Berlin*, she borrowed Charlotte E. Yeager's Colt Single Action Army revolver during a mission.
Interpersonally, Gertrud shares a room with Erica Hartmann, demarcated by a red boundary line dubbed the "Siegfried Line" to contain Hartmann's clutter. While frequently chastising Hartmann for laziness and breaches of discipline, their mutual trust is evident in combat, such as Gertrud carrying the exhausted Hartmann and feeding her chocolate. Her culinary specialty is Eisbein (German ham hock), prepared meticulously for Chris but without particularity otherwise. After the 501st disbanded following the liberation of Gallia, Gertrud relocated to Sint-Truiden, Belgica, with Wilcke and Hartmann for Karlsland recapture operations. The unit later reformed in Romagna, participating in critical battles including the defense of Berlin.
Gertrud displays a stoic and rational demeanor, prioritizing military discipline. However, her inherently passionate nature sometimes leads to emotional outbursts that cloud her situational awareness. She enforces punctuality and regulations strictly, especially with Erica Hartmann, but shows leniency towards longstanding comrades like Minna and Erica outside of duty. A defining characteristic is her "siscon" (sister complex) inclination, stemming from guilt over her younger sister Christiane Barkhorn falling into a coma after a wartime injury. This event triggered a period of reckless, near-suicidal behavior until her gradual recovery, influenced by Sergeant Yoshika Miyafuji. Gertrud now frequently visits the convalescing Chris, sending her souvenirs from deployments, and extends her protective instincts to characters resembling her sister, such as Yoshika Miyafuji (due to physical similarity) and Lynette Bishop (perceived as "raised by a gentle elder sister").
Her inherent magic, "Herculean Strength" (怪力〈超身体強化〉), belongs to the telekinesis lineage and vastly exceeds standard witch body enhancement. It circulates magic internally with minimal expenditure, enabling prolonged use. This power allows her to wield heavy armaments impractical for other witches, carry extra ammunition, tear iron chains, briefly lift multi-ton steel structures, and even halt high-speed Neuroi with bare hands. Despite poor general mechanical aptitude—especially in driving, which often requires Hartmann as her chauffeur—she adapts swiftly to Striker Units and frequently tests experimental models without prior training.
Gertrud's primary Striker Units include the FlakWolf Fw190D-6 prototype (liquid-cooled engine variant), a Messerscharf Bf109G-6 spare unit, and the mass-produced Fw190D-9. She piloted the experimental Messerscharf Me262V1 jet Striker but crashed due to a defect causing excessive magic drain. Her typical armaments comprise dual MG42 machine guns modified with 75-round drum magazines, though she also utilized MK108 cannons, BK-5 autocannons during jet testing, and Panzerfäuste in the movie. In *Road to Berlin*, she borrowed Charlotte E. Yeager's Colt Single Action Army revolver during a mission.
Interpersonally, Gertrud shares a room with Erica Hartmann, demarcated by a red boundary line dubbed the "Siegfried Line" to contain Hartmann's clutter. While frequently chastising Hartmann for laziness and breaches of discipline, their mutual trust is evident in combat, such as Gertrud carrying the exhausted Hartmann and feeding her chocolate. Her culinary specialty is Eisbein (German ham hock), prepared meticulously for Chris but without particularity otherwise. After the 501st disbanded following the liberation of Gallia, Gertrud relocated to Sint-Truiden, Belgica, with Wilcke and Hartmann for Karlsland recapture operations. The unit later reformed in Romagna, participating in critical battles including the defense of Berlin.