TV-Series
Description
Gertrud Barkhorn, often called Trude or Trudy by her comrades, is a veteran witch from Karlsland and a central figure in the 501st Joint Fighter Wing. She holds the rank of Flight Lieutenant and serves as the unit's third-in-command and adjutant, supporting the commander, Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke. Hailing from Kaisersberg near Libau, Gertrud volunteered for military service before the Neuroi invasion and graduated from the Karlsland military academy, originally serving with Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG52).
As a person, Gertrud is defined by a calm, cool, and collected demeanor. She is a realist who strives to conduct herself rationally and places immense value on military discipline, rules, and punctuality, often being the one to voice complaints about tardiness or disorganization. However, beneath this stoic exterior lies a deeply passionate and hot-blooded nature that can occasionally surface, causing her to lose sight of her surroundings when her emotions become overwhelming. She has a strong tendency to be hard on both herself and others, holding herself to an exceptionally high standard, which sometimes manifests as self-criticism.
Her personality is complicated by a fierce protectiveness stemming from a traumatic event involving her younger sister, Christiane Chris Barkhorn. When Chris fell into a coma after being injured during the Karlsland evacuation war, Gertrud became reckless and bitter, bordering on self-abandonment, until she began to heal through interactions with the kind-hearted Yoshika Miyafuji and her sister's eventual recovery. This has given her a pronounced soft spot not only for her own sister but for little sister-like characters in general. She frequently draws parallels between Yoshika Miyafuji and Chris, showing a notable degree of warmth and leniency toward the younger witch, whom she is keen to protect. Her affections also extend to other gentle or earnest individuals like Sanya V. Litvyak, while more boisterous personalities like Francesca Lucchini are typically excluded from this special treatment.
Within the 501st, her key relationships are defined by long history. She has known both Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke and fellow ace Erica Hartmann for a considerable time, and with them she is slightly more open and approachable. Her dynamic with Erica Hartmann is particularly notable; while she often yells at Erica for her lack of discipline and lazy attitude, this has become a familiar routine between the two close friends, and the trust between them is absolute. Gertrud also has a peculiar habit of enforcing a physical boundary against Erica’s clutter in their shared quarters, which she calls the Siegfried Line. Despite her strictness, her role as the unit's archivist and her skill in logistical tasks such as drafting operation plans and managing supplies highlights her competence beyond the battlefield.
In combat, Gertrud is the second-highest ranked ace in the Karlsland Air Force, having achieved a kill score of over 250 Neuroi. Her defining ability is her inherent magical power, classified as Superhuman Strength. This telekinesis-lineage magic circulates power internally with very low expenditure, granting her far greater physical might than standard body enhancement and allowing for prolonged engagement. This strength enables her to wield heavy dual armaments, such as twin MG42 machine guns, that other witches cannot, tear iron chains apart, and even briefly lift steel frames weighing several tons. She is a capable combat leader and, while not the fastest flier, her endurance and firepower make her a formidable asset in drawn-out battles. Her preferred Striker Unit is based on the Focke-Wulf Fw 190D-6 prototype. Off the battlefield, Gertrud has a noted weakness for complex machinery, specifically her dangerous driving skills, leading her to habitually have Erica take the wheel when they go out. She is also skilled at cooking traditional Karlsland dishes like Eisbein, though she generally prioritizes nutrition over taste unless she is cooking for her sister Chris.
As a person, Gertrud is defined by a calm, cool, and collected demeanor. She is a realist who strives to conduct herself rationally and places immense value on military discipline, rules, and punctuality, often being the one to voice complaints about tardiness or disorganization. However, beneath this stoic exterior lies a deeply passionate and hot-blooded nature that can occasionally surface, causing her to lose sight of her surroundings when her emotions become overwhelming. She has a strong tendency to be hard on both herself and others, holding herself to an exceptionally high standard, which sometimes manifests as self-criticism.
Her personality is complicated by a fierce protectiveness stemming from a traumatic event involving her younger sister, Christiane Chris Barkhorn. When Chris fell into a coma after being injured during the Karlsland evacuation war, Gertrud became reckless and bitter, bordering on self-abandonment, until she began to heal through interactions with the kind-hearted Yoshika Miyafuji and her sister's eventual recovery. This has given her a pronounced soft spot not only for her own sister but for little sister-like characters in general. She frequently draws parallels between Yoshika Miyafuji and Chris, showing a notable degree of warmth and leniency toward the younger witch, whom she is keen to protect. Her affections also extend to other gentle or earnest individuals like Sanya V. Litvyak, while more boisterous personalities like Francesca Lucchini are typically excluded from this special treatment.
Within the 501st, her key relationships are defined by long history. She has known both Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke and fellow ace Erica Hartmann for a considerable time, and with them she is slightly more open and approachable. Her dynamic with Erica Hartmann is particularly notable; while she often yells at Erica for her lack of discipline and lazy attitude, this has become a familiar routine between the two close friends, and the trust between them is absolute. Gertrud also has a peculiar habit of enforcing a physical boundary against Erica’s clutter in their shared quarters, which she calls the Siegfried Line. Despite her strictness, her role as the unit's archivist and her skill in logistical tasks such as drafting operation plans and managing supplies highlights her competence beyond the battlefield.
In combat, Gertrud is the second-highest ranked ace in the Karlsland Air Force, having achieved a kill score of over 250 Neuroi. Her defining ability is her inherent magical power, classified as Superhuman Strength. This telekinesis-lineage magic circulates power internally with very low expenditure, granting her far greater physical might than standard body enhancement and allowing for prolonged engagement. This strength enables her to wield heavy dual armaments, such as twin MG42 machine guns, that other witches cannot, tear iron chains apart, and even briefly lift steel frames weighing several tons. She is a capable combat leader and, while not the fastest flier, her endurance and firepower make her a formidable asset in drawn-out battles. Her preferred Striker Unit is based on the Focke-Wulf Fw 190D-6 prototype. Off the battlefield, Gertrud has a noted weakness for complex machinery, specifically her dangerous driving skills, leading her to habitually have Erica take the wheel when they go out. She is also skilled at cooking traditional Karlsland dishes like Eisbein, though she generally prioritizes nutrition over taste unless she is cooking for her sister Chris.