SS-Hauptsturmführer von Linden/The Captain Character Analysis in Code Name Verity

One of the novel’s antagonists, von Linden is the Ormaie Gestapo captain who oversees Julie’s interrogation—and who decides how, and how much, Julie is tortured. Julie refers to him as von Linden in her account; when Maddie is writing about him in her pilot’s notebook, she and the other Resistance members simply call him “the captain.” Everyone agrees that while von Linden is soft-spoken and intellectual, he’s absolutely terrifying. Julie feels this way because of how von Linden treated her “like a wireless set” while he was torturing her, meaning that he didn’t take pleasure in it or even watch much—it was just his job. And she’s even more afraid of him after starting to translate some of his notes, as she gets more insight into how his mind works (and she sees just how good he is at his job). Despite her fear of him, Julie sometimes pushes him to try and show herself and von Linden that he’s human—such as when she asks him about his daughter, Isolde, and what he’s told Isolde about his line of work. The two also regularly debate about literature; they have read many of the same books and poems, and he reads things based on Julie’s recommendations. Eventually, Julie discovers that von Linden was a headmaster of a prestigious boys’ school before he joined the Nazis. Others who don’t know this—like Maddie—nevertheless remark that von Linden reminds them of a headmaster. Von Linden seems overwhelmed by the weight of the horrible things he must do to please his superiors, though his support for the Nazis more generally never seems to waver. It’s implied that he, like everyone else, is terrified of his boss, Ferber, and Maddie characterizes him as cowardly for following Ferber’s order and sending Julie to the Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp. Ultimately, not long after the Resistance bombs the Ormaie Gestapo HQ, von Linden is found dead. The telegram bearing this news suggests it was a suicide.

SS-Hauptsturmführer von Linden/The Captain Quotes in Code Name Verity

The Code Name Verity quotes below are all either spoken by SS-Hauptsturmführer von Linden/The Captain or refer to SS-Hauptsturmführer von Linden/The Captain. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Von Linden resembles Captain Hook in that he is rather an upright sort of gentleman in spite of his being a brute, and I am quite Pan-like in my naïve confidence that he will play by the rules and keep his word. So far, he has.

Related Characters: Julie/The Narrator/Queenie/Verity (speaker), SS-Hauptsturmführer von Linden/The Captain

Related Symbols: Peter Pan

Page Number and Citation: 5

Explanation and Analysis:

He wanted to know, then, why I was choosing to write about myself in the third person. Do you know, I had not even noticed I was doing it until he asked.

The simple answer is because I am telling the story from Maddie’s point of view, and it would be awkward to introduce another viewpoint character at this point. It is much easier writing about me in the third person than it would be if I tried to tell the story from my own point of view. I can avoid all my old thoughts and feelings. It’s a superficial way to write about myself. I don’t have to take myself seriously—or, well, only as seriously as Maddie takes me.

Related Characters: Julie/The Narrator/Queenie/Verity (speaker), Anna Engel, Maddie Brodatt, SS-Hauptsturmführer von Linden/The Captain

Page Number and Citation: 58

Explanation and Analysis:

“Your accent is frightful,” I answered, also in French. “Would you repeat that in English?”

She did—taking no insult, very serious, through a pall of smoke.

“I’m looking for verity.”

It’s a bloody good thing von Linden let me have that cigarette, because otherwise I don’t know how I’d have managed to conceal that every one of us was dealing out her own DAMNED PACK OF LIES.

Related Characters: Julie/The Narrator/Queenie/Verity (speaker), Georgia Penn (speaker), Maddie Brodatt, SS-Hauptsturmführer von Linden/The Captain, Anna Engel

Page Number and Citation: 131

Explanation and Analysis:

He has a light nasal tenor—so beautiful. It hurt worse than being slapped, being shown the irony of his life. And of mine, of mine—OF MINE—Isolde alive in the day and the sun while I suffocate in Night and Fog, the unfairness of it, the random unfairness of everything, of me being here and Isolde being in Switzerland, and Engel not getting any cognac and Jamie losing his toes. And Maddie, Oh lovely Maddie,

MADDIE

Related Characters: Julie/The Narrator/Queenie/Verity (speaker), Isolde, Jamie, SS-Hauptsturmführer von Linden/The Captain, Georgia Penn, Maddie Brodatt, Anna Engel

Page Number and Citation: 181

Explanation and Analysis:

“She showed me,” Penn said. “She was pretty clear about it. Adjusted her scarf as soon as we’d shaken hands—gave me a good look. Ugly row of narrow triangular burns across her throat and collarbone, just beginning to heal. It looked like it had been done with a soldering iron. More of the same all along the insides of her wrists. She was very clever about showing me, cool as you please, no drama about it.”

Related Characters: Georgia Penn (speaker), Maddie Brodatt, SS-Hauptsturmführer von Linden/The Captain, Mitraillette, Julie/The Narrator/Queenie/Verity

Page Number and Citation: 261

Explanation and Analysis:

Because that’s what it’s like, schoolmates being guillotined as spies. I didn’t understand before—really didn’t understand. Being a kid and worrying that a bomb might kill you is terrible. But being a kid and worrying that the police might cut your head off is something else entirely. I haven’t words for it. Every fresh broken horror is something I just didn’t understand until I came here.

Related Characters: Maddie Brodatt (speaker), The French Girl/Marie, Amélie/La Cadette, Julie/The Narrator/Queenie/Verity, SS-Hauptsturmführer von Linden/The Captain

Page Number and Citation: 265

Explanation and Analysis:

What’s strange about the whole thing is that although it’s riddled with nonsense, altogether it’s true—Julie’s told our story, mine and hers, our friendship, so truthfully. It is us. We even had the same dream at the same time. How could we have had the same dream at the same time? How something so wonderful and mysterious be true? But it is.

Related Characters: Maddie Brodatt (speaker), SS-Hauptsturmführer von Linden/The Captain, Julie/The Narrator/Queenie/Verity

Page Number and Citation: 297

Explanation and Analysis:

“You never gave any to Julie.”

“Never gave any to Julie!” Engel gave an astonished bark of laughter. “I damn well gave her half my salary in cigarettes, greedy little Scottish savage! She nearly bankrupted me. Smoked her way through all five years of your pilot’s career!”

“She never said! She never even hinted! Not once!”

“What do you think would have happened to her,” Engel said coolly, “if she had written this down? What would have happened to me?”

Related Characters: Maddie Brodatt (speaker), Anna Engel (speaker), Julie/The Narrator/Queenie/Verity, SS-Hauptsturmführer von Linden/The Captain

Page Number and Citation: 308

Explanation and Analysis:

SS-Hauptsturmführer von Linden/The Captain Character Timeline in Code Name Verity

The timeline below shows where the character SS-Hauptsturmführer von Linden/The Captain appears in Code Name Verity. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...But now she knows she’s a coward, since she made such a ridiculous deal with SS-Hauptsturmführer von Linden . The deal was that in exchange for getting her clothes back, the narrator would... (full context)

...her written French and German aren’t good enough. Fräulen Engel can translate the account for von Linden . Now, the narrator turns to the first thing she’s been asked to reveal: the... (full context)

Now, the narrator writes that she’s also supposed to tell von Linden about the types of aircraft the Allies are using. She knows nothing about aircraft types;... (full context)

...The narrator notes that Fräulen Engel has asked her to stop writing “idiot Fascist,” because von Linden won’t like it. Engel seems scared of him. (full context)

...pen doesn’t work; she wants her pencil back. Thibaut takes over writing and explains to von Linden that the narrator, the English Flight Officer, is telling the truth; the ink has now... (full context)

...nervous last night because Engel was afraid the narrator hadn’t revealed enough British secrets for von Linden . But von Linden called the narrator’s account an “interesting overview of the situation in... (full context)

...today. Now she has to endure several hours of watching Engel struggle to translate for von Linden , and von Linden’s questioning. Hopefully she has some bad soup and a blanket to... (full context)

...narrator’s ankles are tied to her chair, and because the narrator has a deal with von Linden . To avoid another interrogation session with him, the narrator will do anything, including continuing... (full context)

...which was hilarious. Engel wanted the narrator to record her first meeting with Maddie—which made von Linden laugh. He told her that the narrator already had, and that she’s using “the craft... (full context)

...narrator has gotten Engel in trouble by mentioning her cigarettes. Hitler doesn’t like tobacco, and von Linden enforces whatever Hitler commands. (full context)

...was playing God and that she was chosen, but she didn’t care. She observes that von Linden is about the same age as the intelligence officer. Is he married to an educated... (full context)

...the cook touch her breasts; she avoided assault by telling the cook she belonged to von Linden . Guards then made her watch von Linden torture a French boy for an hour,... (full context)

...their own filth for days. Now the narrator feels like a special wireless set that von Linden can use to tune in to the BBC. (full context)

...narrator is frantically writing anything just so they leave her alone. She’s also panicking because von Linden told her she has two weeks to write—do her four wasted days count? She’s never... (full context)

Now, von Linden is here, and the narrator will have to translate herself, since Engel isn’t here. When... (full context)

...that they washed her hair with kerosene to get rid of the lice. Just after von Linden left last night, there was an air raid. Everyone went to their shelters, and the... (full context)

...will hopefully make the narrator presentable. The Gestapo have decided that she’s going to translate von Linden ’s notes so it looks like they’re putting her to use. The narrator is translating... (full context)

Addressing von Linden , the narrator thanks him for her eiderdown blanket, which is embroidered “C d B”... (full context)

...she’s afraid of the cold, falling asleep while she’s working, bombs falling on Jamie, kerosene, von Linden , losing her sweater, being sent to Natzweiler-Struthof, having to tell people in England what... (full context)

People are getting excited about the American’s visit. The interview will take place in von Linden ’s office, which the narrator got to see earlier—it’s lavish. Presently, she’s still writing in... (full context)

...narrator would love to write more about her bedroom, her home, and Jamie and Maddie, von Linden needs to prepare her for her interview tomorrow—so many lies. (full context)

The narrator writes that they set her up in von Linden ’s office with useless documents to translate. The woman, Georgia Penn, was very American. They... (full context)

...pulled herself together and put out her cigarette. She asked to speak in English, and von Linden agreed. Von Linden didn’t want the narrator to talk about the 11 wireless sets in... (full context)

Penn thanked von Linden for the interview, and then asked the narrator if she could get her things, like... (full context)

The narrator writes that last night, von Linden asked if she’d read Goethe. They debated literature, and as he left, the narrator wished... (full context)

...is going on, because the Gestapo are being unusually relentless with their other prisoners. Maybe von Linden ’s boss, SS-Sturmbannführer Ferber, might be visiting soon. The narrator is struggling to think; she’s... (full context)

...Queenie did. Queenie said she didn’t translate—she was an interrogator. At this, the narrator addresses von Linden . She notes that they both do the same work and are both good at... (full context)

...is copying down “Auld Lang Syne.” She’s exhausted since she’s been writing all night, and von Linden is still torturing the French girl. She likes writing about Maddie, but she’s too tired... (full context)

The narrator writes that last night, von Linden stormed in and made the guard stop forcing the narrator to write. He must read... (full context)

...scattered all over Europe, hidden in boxes as their writers disappear. She asks that if von Linden doesn’t burn her account, she’d really like to capture how excited she was to be... (full context)

Von Linden knows now. The narrator isn’t sure that giving up her identity as Eva Seiler will... (full context)

...And then, the narrator slowly advanced and, in a vulnerable voice, looked up and asked von Linden what his daughter’s name is. He told her: Isolde. Laughing, the narrator cried that she... (full context)

Von Linden ordered the narrator to sit and then, with prodding, explained that Isolde doesn’t know what... (full context)

According to von Linden , the narrator is the most foul-mouthed person he knows. Today, she’s to have her... (full context)

The narrator writes that last night, she and von Linden got into a “catfight” over the French girl. The Gestapo were torturing the girl all... (full context)

Von Linden told the narrator to answer the question—and the narrator lost it. In a scream, she... (full context)

...as nobody’s told her. There’s not much else for the narrator to write; how does von Linden expect this story to end? Engel has now found some ice for the narrator’s water... (full context)

The narrator can’t believe she’s still alive. Now, von Linden sits across from her, and Marie’s blood is on the narrator’s hands. He did allow... (full context)

Not even von Linden has said anything about the fact that the narrator has been writing for three weeks... (full context)

...take her account away, and she’ll have nothing to comfort her while she waits for von Linden ’s decision. Why did she write this in the first place? All it did was... (full context)

...There she will be executed by lethal injection if she survives six weeks of experimentation. Von Linden is not to show her any compassion, or he’ll be shot. (full context)

According to both Amélie and Mitraillette, the captain is terrifying, despite being soft-spoken and polite. He brings Amélie gifts every time he comes;... (full context)

...prisoners who refuse to speak. Amélie is extremely disturbed, mostly because she thought the Gestapo captain was like a priest and plays by the rules. But it doesn’t sit well with... (full context)

...told her no, but she’s going to try again and go straight to the local captain. She seems crazy, but she’s amazing. Hopefully, Maddie will be going home tomorrow (November 16). (full context)

...around drinking cognac, and Julie gave Penn information in code right in front of the captain. Julie told Penn she’s a wireless operator; she’s no doubt given the Gestapo obsolete wireless... (full context)

...feeling brave. Penn shared that Julie has been tortured; carefully, Julie would wait until the captain wasn’t looking and then pull back her sleeve, or adjust her scarf, to show Penn... (full context)

Maddie also got to see the Gestapo captain. She gaped a bit at the man who’s been interrogating Julie and, if he hasn’t... (full context)

...to drop the lipstick tube. Then, in German, she offered the tube to Engel. The captain was already in the car; he couldn’t hear them. Engel asked in English if Maddie... (full context)

...with the number. Julie was exhausted and knew, more or less, what Ferber had told von Linden to do. Anna said that she wrote the number on her own palm, showed it... (full context)

...found out? Maddie accepted the cigarette and Anna told her how she got Julie’s account: von Linden ’s landlady picked it up with laundry and told him she used the paper to... (full context)

...she gave to Julie before the interview. Now, Maddie has all she needs. Just then, von Linden came around the corner. Maddie was shocked to come face to face with her “mortal... (full context)

...father has been found dead. It seems like a suicide. Maddie explained to Balliol that von Linden is Isolde’s father, the man who questioned and sentenced Verity. (full context)

...in Switzerland. She probably doesn’t know her father killed himself. Maddie still has the matchbook von Linden gave Amélie. (full context)

SS-Hauptsturmführer von Linden/The Captain Character Analysis

SS-Hauptsturmführer von Linden/The Captain Quotes in Code Name Verity

Part 1: Ormaie 8.XI.43 JB-S Quotes

Part 1: Ormaie 11.XI.43 JB-S Quotes

Part 1: Ormaie 20.XI.43 JB-S Quotes

Part 1: Ormaie 23.XI.43 JB-S Quotes

Part 2, Section 11 Quotes

Part 2, Section 13 Quotes

Part 2, Section 20 Quotes

Part 2, Section 22 Quotes

SS-Hauptsturmführer von Linden/The Captain Character Timeline in Code Name Verity