TV-Series
Description
Gertrud Barkhorn, often called Trudy, is a veteran witch from Karlsland and serves as a senior officer and combat leader within the 501st Joint Fighter Wing. She holds the rank of Captain and later Major, acting as the unit's second-in-command or adjutant, and is widely recognized as humanity's second-greatest ace, having achieved over 250 confirmed aerial victories against the Neuroi. Her familiar, a German Shorthair Pointer, manifests as animal ears and a tail when she uses her magical abilities.
On the surface, Gertrud presents herself as a calm, cool, and collected realist who strictly adheres to military discipline and regulations. She strongly believes a soldier should follow rules, and she is often seen enforcing punctuality and order, for which she has earned a reputation as a stickler for protocol. However, beneath this composed exterior lies a deeply passionate and hot-blooded nature. In the heat of combat or under significant emotional stress, she can become so focused that she loses awareness of her surroundings, revealing her intense inner fire.
A core motivation for Gertrud is her profound love and guilt concerning her younger sister, Christiane, who fell into a coma after an injury during the battle to defend their homeland. This personal tragedy drives her to be fiercely protective, especially of those who remind her of Chris. Her "siscon" side, or sister complex, makes her particularly affectionate toward individuals she perceives as little sister figures, such as Yoshika Miyafuji, who shares a physical resemblance to Chris, and Sanya V. Litvyak, who she believes has a gentle disposition. This protective instinct creates a notable soft spot in her otherwise strict personality.
Within the 501st, Gertrud's most significant relationships are with Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke and Erica Hartmann. With Minna, she shares a deep, long-standing friendship and loyalty, acting as her reliable and trusted subordinate. Her dynamic with Erica is more volatile, characterized as a "cat-and-dog" relationship. While she has known Hartmann for years, Gertrud is constantly exasperated by her roommate's lazy, messy, and undisciplined habits, frequently shouting at her to maintain order, even going so far as to draw a red "Siegfried Line" on the floor of their room to contain the clutter. Despite this, their mutual trust is absolute in combat situations. Her relationship with Yoshika Miyafuji evolves from viewing her as a reckless newcomer to a protective senior officer, often comparing her to her own sister and looking out for her well-being.
Throughout the series, Gertrud experiences notable development, particularly in softening her rigid demeanor. Her interaction with the warm and healing nature of Yoshika helps her process the trauma of her sister's injury. As she witnesses Chris's recovery, she becomes less bitter and more emotionally open, allowing herself to show vulnerability and care more freely. Her role also evolves as she takes on greater leadership responsibilities, eventually becoming the battle commander of the 501st, a position that requires her to balance her aggression with strategic thinking and the safety of her comrades.
Gertrud's primary combat ability stems from her inherent magic, known as "Superhuman Strength" or "Herculean Strength". This telekinesis-lineage magic is a specialized form of body enhancement that far exceeds the standard capabilities of a witch. It circulates magic power internally with minimal external diffusion, allowing her to sustain her enhanced state for long periods. This power grants her phenomenal strength, enabling her to wield heavy armaments that other witches cannot, such as dual-wielding MG42 machine guns. She is capable of physically tearing iron chains, lifting multi-ton steel frames, and even halting a high-speed Neuroi with her bare hands. This ability makes her exceptionally suited for drawn-out, heavy-weapon combat. She typically pilots a Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D-6 prototype Striker unit and once tested an experimental Me 262 V1 jet Striker, which unfortunately crashed due to a defect. Outside of her combat prowess, Gertrud struggles with complex machinery, particularly driving, a task she often delegates to Hartmann for safety reasons. She is also a proficient cook, specializing in the traditional Karlsland dish of Eisbein, though she puts special care into the flavor only when cooking for her sister.
On the surface, Gertrud presents herself as a calm, cool, and collected realist who strictly adheres to military discipline and regulations. She strongly believes a soldier should follow rules, and she is often seen enforcing punctuality and order, for which she has earned a reputation as a stickler for protocol. However, beneath this composed exterior lies a deeply passionate and hot-blooded nature. In the heat of combat or under significant emotional stress, she can become so focused that she loses awareness of her surroundings, revealing her intense inner fire.
A core motivation for Gertrud is her profound love and guilt concerning her younger sister, Christiane, who fell into a coma after an injury during the battle to defend their homeland. This personal tragedy drives her to be fiercely protective, especially of those who remind her of Chris. Her "siscon" side, or sister complex, makes her particularly affectionate toward individuals she perceives as little sister figures, such as Yoshika Miyafuji, who shares a physical resemblance to Chris, and Sanya V. Litvyak, who she believes has a gentle disposition. This protective instinct creates a notable soft spot in her otherwise strict personality.
Within the 501st, Gertrud's most significant relationships are with Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke and Erica Hartmann. With Minna, she shares a deep, long-standing friendship and loyalty, acting as her reliable and trusted subordinate. Her dynamic with Erica is more volatile, characterized as a "cat-and-dog" relationship. While she has known Hartmann for years, Gertrud is constantly exasperated by her roommate's lazy, messy, and undisciplined habits, frequently shouting at her to maintain order, even going so far as to draw a red "Siegfried Line" on the floor of their room to contain the clutter. Despite this, their mutual trust is absolute in combat situations. Her relationship with Yoshika Miyafuji evolves from viewing her as a reckless newcomer to a protective senior officer, often comparing her to her own sister and looking out for her well-being.
Throughout the series, Gertrud experiences notable development, particularly in softening her rigid demeanor. Her interaction with the warm and healing nature of Yoshika helps her process the trauma of her sister's injury. As she witnesses Chris's recovery, she becomes less bitter and more emotionally open, allowing herself to show vulnerability and care more freely. Her role also evolves as she takes on greater leadership responsibilities, eventually becoming the battle commander of the 501st, a position that requires her to balance her aggression with strategic thinking and the safety of her comrades.
Gertrud's primary combat ability stems from her inherent magic, known as "Superhuman Strength" or "Herculean Strength". This telekinesis-lineage magic is a specialized form of body enhancement that far exceeds the standard capabilities of a witch. It circulates magic power internally with minimal external diffusion, allowing her to sustain her enhanced state for long periods. This power grants her phenomenal strength, enabling her to wield heavy armaments that other witches cannot, such as dual-wielding MG42 machine guns. She is capable of physically tearing iron chains, lifting multi-ton steel frames, and even halting a high-speed Neuroi with her bare hands. This ability makes her exceptionally suited for drawn-out, heavy-weapon combat. She typically pilots a Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D-6 prototype Striker unit and once tested an experimental Me 262 V1 jet Striker, which unfortunately crashed due to a defect. Outside of her combat prowess, Gertrud struggles with complex machinery, particularly driving, a task she often delegates to Hartmann for safety reasons. She is also a proficient cook, specializing in the traditional Karlsland dish of Eisbein, though she puts special care into the flavor only when cooking for her sister.