# Erich von Hohenwald — The Big Time character guide > Erich von Hohenwald in The Big Time by Fritz Leiber. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Erich, Erich Friederich von Hohenwald, Even Erich **First appearance:** 0000-i-enter-three-hussars ## Snapshot A scar-loving German officer whose nerve and sarcasm make him dangerous company, especially when the Place's politics turn from speeches to schemes. ## Who they are Erich needles Lili's earnest feminism, trades barbs with Bruce, and carries himself like a man who has already triggered a bomb and enjoyed the fallout. He prizes Kameradschaft shaped to his own specifications, which makes his loyalties both theatrical and unpredictable. His willingness to push the group into a crisis they must solve together gives the early arc its friction and its uneasy comedy. ## Relationships ### [Unknown Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_time_se/characters/unknown_narrator) _romantic_ Erich and the narrator have a passionate and complex romantic relationship, often strained by external pressures and personal conflicts. ### [Bruce Marchant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_time_se/characters/bruce_marchant) _rivalry_ Bruce and Erich are intense rivals, competing for the narrator's affection and clashing over ideology and power. ### [Sidney Lessingham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_time_se/characters/sidney_lessingham) _rivalry_ Erich and Sidney are bitter rivals, clashing over control and ideology within their shared environment. ### [Lili Foster](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_time_se/characters/lili_foster) _friendship_ Erich and Lili share a cautious but genuine friendship, often bonding over their mutual care for the narrator. ### [Beau Lassiter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_time_se/characters/beau_lassiter) _friendship_ Beau and Erich have a friendly but wary relationship, marked by mutual respect and occasional tension. ### [Unknown Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_time_se/characters/unknown_narrator) _romantic_ Erich and the narrator have a passionate and complex romantic relationship, often strained by external pressures and personal conflicts. ### [Unknown Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_time_se/characters/unknown_narrator) _romantic_ Erich and the narrator have a passionate and complex romantic relationship, often strained by external pressures and personal conflicts. ### [Sidney Lessingham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_time_se/characters/sidney_lessingham) _rivalry_ Erich and Sidney are bitter rivals, clashing over control and ideology within their shared environment. ### [Bruce Marchant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_time_se/characters/bruce_marchant) _rivalry_ Bruce and Erich are intense rivals, competing for the narrator's affection and clashing over ideology and power. ### [Bruce Marchant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_time_se/characters/bruce_marchant) _rivalry_ Bruce and Erich are intense rivals, competing for the narrator's affection and clashing over ideology and power. ### [Sidney Lessingham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_time_se/characters/sidney_lessingham) _rivalry_ Erich and Sidney are bitter rivals, clashing over control and ideology within their shared environment. ### [Beau Lassiter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_time_se/characters/beau_lassiter) _friendship_ Beau and Erich have a friendly but wary relationship, marked by mutual respect and occasional tension. ## In the story ### [I: Enter Three Hussars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_time_se/chapters/i-enter-three-hussars) First of the three hussars, a German officer from WWII, calls the New Boy a Snake. ### [II: A Right-Hand Glove](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_time_se/chapters/ii-a-right-hand-glove) Reacts to Bruce's mention of Change Death and translates Doc's traumatic mutterings from German, showing his connection to the Nazi past. ### [III: Nine for a Party](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_time_se/chapters/iii-nine-for-a-party) Erich is boisterous, introduces Mark with a pompous speech, and later sings with Beau. He shows jealousy and affection toward Greta. ### [V: Sid Insists on Ghostgirls](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_time_se/chapters/v-sid-insists-on-ghostgirls) Erich acts hurt at losing the narrator but quickly engages with a Ghostgirl, showing off his technique. ### [VII: Time to Think](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_time_se/chapters/vii-time-to-think) Proud of Bruce's command, supports him, and is white-faced with fear. ### [VIII: A Place to Stand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_time_se/chapters/viii-a-place-to-stand) Interrupts Bruce repeatedly, mocks his idealism and love for Lili, and performs a mocking dance on the bomb. Represents the cynical, war-hardened perspective. ### [X: Motives and Opportunities](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_time_se/chapters/x-motives-and-opportunities) Erich argues with Mark and Kaby; the narrator considers his motive for Introverting the Place to settle his battle with Bruce. ### [XI: The Western Front, 1917](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_time_se/chapters/xi-the-western-front-1917) Scoffs at Lili's speech, calling it a 'sewing circle' and mocking the idea of a great love affair. ### [XII: A Big Opportunity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_time_se/chapters/xii-a-big-opportunity) Vehemently opposes Lili's vision, insults women, and after being punched, grabs a bomb from the chest. ### [XIII: The Tiger Is Loose](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_time_se/chapters/xiii-the-tiger-is-loose) Erich triggers the bomb and calmly accuses Lili and Bruce, taking charge of the situation with cold efficiency. ### [XV: Lord Spider](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_time_se/chapters/xv-lord-spider) Retrieves the Maintainer and activates the Introversion switch, restoring the Change Winds. ### [XVI: The Possibility-Binders](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_time_se/chapters/xvi-the-possibility-binders) Sings a song with Bruce; his triggering of the bomb is mentioned as balancing Bruce's mutiny. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_time_se/characters/erich_von_hohenwald - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_time_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_time_se/characters