George Heisler
The novel's protagonist, George Heisler, is one of the seven prisoners who escape from the Westhofen concentration camp. He is a hardened communist who shows remarkable resilience and resourcefulness throughout the novel so that he can survive. George transforms from somebody who only cares about himself to someone who realizes the importance of caring for his fellow man and the importance of collective struggle and resistance against oppressors of all shapes and sizes.
George's character typifies the human instinct for survival under severe adversity. No matter his situation, George works tirelessly to survive. Over the course of the novel, George learns that survival is not only about preserving one's life but also about preserving one's human dignity and ideological beliefs.
Ernst Wallau
Another one of the seven escapees, Wallau, is the oldest amongst them and known for his strength and determination. He is caught and executed early in the story but remains a symbolic figure of resistance and courage in the face of seemingly overwhelming odds. His execution on the Seventh Cross (from which the novel gets its name) is a stark reminder of Nazi brutality.
Franz Marnet
Marnet is a former sailor who the Nazis concentration camp. One of the seven prisoners who escape the camp, Koster is one of the many Germans who found themselves at odds with Hitler and his Nazi regime. He is more focused on self-preservation and doesn't share the same ideological convictions as George or Wallau, but he ultimately doesn't as last as long as either.
Elli
Elli is George's ex-lover and the mother of their child. Despite her personal resentment towards George because he abandoned her and their child, she shows great courage and sympathy by giving him refuge when he is on the run from the Nazis and their evil Gestapo. Her character, like many other people around her, represents the countless unseen and unappreciated people who played critical roles in the resistance against the Nazis.
Paul Roeder
Paul Roeder is George's former friend. When George comes to Roeder asking for his help, Roeder grapples with the dilemma of whether to help him and risk his and his family's safety or abandon his old friend. As a devoted family man, this decision becomes the source of tremendous turmoil for Roeder, who ultimately decides to help his old friend. Roeder's character is symbolic of the moral and ethical dilemmas that were faced by ordinary citizens who lived under the oppressive Nazi regime.
