The Assault Character Analysis

Anton Steenwijk

Anton Steenwijk, the novel’s protagonist, is from Haarlem, the Netherlands. In 1945, when he is only 12 years old his parents and brother Peter tragically die in an incident at the hands of the Nazis… read analysis of Anton Steenwijk

Truus Coster

Truus Coster is a woman with whom Anton spent a night in a cell the night of the incident in which his family was killed. At the time, 12-year-old Anton did not know her name… read analysis of Truus Coster

Mr. Korteweg

Mr. Korteweg is a neighbor of the Steenwijk family. He is unfriendly to Anton and prefers to tend to his pet lizards rather than socialize. After Chief Inspector Ploeg is shot in front of the… read analysis of Mr. Korteweg

Karin Korteweg

Karin Korteweg was Anton’s neighbor in Haarlem growing up. He had a crush on her as a boy. One night in 1945, Karin and her father, Mr. Korteweg, move the corpse of Chief… read analysis of Karin Korteweg

Peter (Anton's Brother)

Peter is Anton’s brother. After the Mr. Korteweg moves Chief Inspector Ploeg’s body in front of the Steenwijks’ house, Peter decides to take action and move the body away from their house in… read analysis of Peter (Anton's Brother)

Mr. Steenwijk

Steenwijk is Anton’s father. He is a law clerk whom Anton describes as a man of inaction—instead of being involved in politics, he simply records what those involved in politics do. Anton seems to… read analysis of Mr. Steenwijk

Mrs. Steenwijk

Mrs. Steenwijk is Anton’s mother. Together with Mr. Steenwijk, Mrs. Steenwijk does her best to conserve resources in the cold winter of 1945, when food is scarce. Like Anton’s father, she is murdered… read analysis of Mrs. Steenwijk

Chief Inspector Fake Ploeg

Chief Inspector Fake Ploeg is a police inspector in Haarlem who is a notorious Nazi collaborator. He is described as brutal and is an ardent supporter of Nazism, even forcing his son (whose name is… read analysis of Chief Inspector Fake Ploeg

Fake Ploeg

Fake Ploeg is the son of Chief Inspector Fake Ploeg. He and Anton are in the same class before Anton moves to Amsterdam following the death of his parents. Anton later reconnects with Fake… read analysis of Fake Ploeg

Saskia

Saskia is Anton’s first wife, whom he meets while touring Westminster Abbey in London. She is a flight attendant and the daughter of the diplomat De Graaff. She and Anton have a daughter… read analysis of Saskia

Sandra

Sandra is the daughter of Anton and Saskia. When she is 16 years old, she tells Anton that she wants to see the site of her grandparents’ (Mr. Steenwijk and Mrs. Steenwijk)… read analysis of Sandra

De Graaff

De Graaff is the father of Anton’s first wife, Saskia. He is a diplomat and was a key member of the Resistance during World War II. He is a very influential man and… read analysis of De Graaff

Cor Takes

Cor Takes is a friend of De Graaff and former Resistance fighter. Anton meets him at the funeral of another one of De Graaff’s friends and comrades and overhears Cor saying that he shot Chief… read analysis of Cor Takes

Gerrit Jan

Gerrit Jan is a friend of Anton’s. Gerrit Jan is a political person, and throughout their friendship, he encourages Anton to get involved in politics, too. One day, when Anton goes to a party… read analysis of Gerrit Jan

The Beumers

Mr. and Mrs. Beumer are neighbors of the Steenwijks in Haarlem. A few years after the incident, Anton goes to visit Haarlem for the first time and Mrs. Beumer invites him inside. By this time… read analysis of The Beumers

Uncle Peter

After the death of Anton’s parents, he moves in with his aunt and uncle. Uncle Peter, a doctor, becomes a father figure to Anton. In the weeks after the liberation, Uncle Peter attempts to… read analysis of Uncle Peter

Officer Schulz

Officer Schulz is a Nazi officer who watches Anton after Anton is taken to the station the night his parents are killed. Schulz treats Anton kindly, cutting up spare uniforms to keep Anton warm. That… read analysis of Officer Schulz

Minor Characters

The Aartses

The Aartses are neighbors of the Steenwijks in Haarlem. Their other neighbors dislike them because they keep to themselves and do not socialize. However, years later, Anton finds out that the reason they were so antisocial is that they were hiding a Jewish family from the Nazis.

Anton’s Aunt

Anton lives with his aunt and Uncle Peter after the death of his parents. Anton’s aunt a mother figure to Anton.

Peter (Anton's Son)

Peter is Anton’s son with his second wife, Liesbeth. At the end of the novel, he is 12 years old: the same age that Anton was when his parents and brother were murdered. Peter accompanies Anton to the peace march in Amsterdam, excited by the collective action for peace.

Liesbeth

Liesbeth is Anton’s second wife, whom he meets when she is a student and secretary at the hospital where she works. She and Anton have a son, Peter. She cares for Anton, helping him to get medical help for his panic attacks.

The Assault Characters