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As the story began Joana starts her journey out of Lithonia as it is being invaded by the soviet union, Joana leaves with a group of refugees, she also has to leave her family so she is challenged with guilt.
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Florian is a young Prussian soldier who stole an valuable artifact from the the Nazis.
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Emilia is a polish teenager that is troubled by the fear of war and isolation, at this point in the book Emilia starts her journey by escaping Poland.
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Alfred is a self centered/clueless to the war young German soldier who loves the idea of honor. He is basically the flip side of the story compared to the 3 other main characters. Alfred is on his way to the Wilhelm Gustloff witch is a submarine where most of the story takes place.
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Joana, Florian, and Emilia make their ways separately to Gotenhafen, a port where the Wilhelm Gustloff is docked. They do not know one another's path, but each is struggling to survive in the midst of the war.
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Florian meets Joana and Emilia on his journey to Gotenhafen. Although cautious at first, they are soon traveling together as they head towards the ship.
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Alfred continues to write compulsive letters to Herta, his girlfriend/lover, as he journeys towards Gotenhafen. He expects his heroism to earn him acclaim in the Nazi regime. Alfred has also made it to the sub.
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Joana still is a nurse helping people, but she has to face the cause of burden because she left her family/parents to die, while she helps everyone else.
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These two grow more to trust each other, because Florian admitted to his past were he stole the artifact and that's why he was running away.
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They are getting close to where the sub is parked but fear is crinkling over them from the soviet. Everyone has also changed from being who they were to being a team that is starting to trust each other more and more.
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Alfred is still writing his declensional letters, and he thinks he will become a hero to gain hertas love. Alfred has also made it to the sub station.
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Everyone including Alfred all went to the sub with 1000s of others to try to escape the war.
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The Sub is struck by three Soviet torpedoes. The ship begins to sink in minutes, and everyone panics. Joana Emilia and Florian all survived the cold Baltic sea only left with emotional scares from the event. Alfred was purposely left in the ocean, and not picked up by any of the rescue boats.