Werner is a German orphan who grew up in Children House with his sister Jutta and was raised by Frau Elena. Before World War II began, his future had already been decided for him: he was to join the coal miners once he becomes eighteen. He did not want coal mining to be his future; he instead wanted to pursue physics and technology (okay Werner is legit John Hickam from October Sky). When he was a kid, Werner spent the majority of his free time repairing radios. Werner was raised to believe that hard work would get him anywhere he wanted in life and his dedication and passion for technology was the reason why he got recruited into the Hitler Youth. His sister Jutta tries to persuade Werner from joining the Nazi regime and tells him that there's another side to this war. However, Werner does not listen. Throughout his physical training, Werner is exposed to harsh conditions and after seeing his friend Frederick get beaten up serverely for being the weakest one at the school, he realizes the inhumanity of becoming a Nazi. Werner's memories and letters to Jutta are the only thing keeping him sane. As his time with the Nazi regime progresses, he admires Jutta more and more for speaking her mind and being loyal to him even when he is a Nazi. As said in the section, 'Why Should I Care?", Werner does follow orders and kill people who are against Nazi Germany. However, we see humanity in Werner when he throws up after finding out his coworker killed the little girl that he was watching on the swing and the girl's mother. When Werner gets sent to Saint-Malo to locate some radio transmissions, he hears Claude de Lune on an illegal broadcast and instantly gets transported to his childhood. He traces the transmissions to Marie's house and he immediately falls head over heels for Marie. Like he legit follows her around (pretty creepy and cute at the same time). He does not tell his coworkers about Marie and saves her life. He kinda saves her life again when he knocks out von Rumpel. Before Marie and Werner go their separate ways, Marie gives him the iron key to the grotto and he puts it in the model of Etienne's house (which Marie does not know). He intended to give Marie the model once the war is over. After World War II ended, Werner was never able to reunite with Marie and dies after getting captured by the American army.