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As a well-connected technical sciences instructor at Schulpforta, Dr. Hauptmann is in a unique position to either help or disadvantage Werner during his time at the school. His power comes not only from his position at the front of the classroom but also from his status within the Nazi party. Given that one of the first descriptions of Dr. Hauptmann reveals that he is “rosy-cheeked and diminutive,” the level of authority that he possesses seems rather ironic. Highlighting the disparity between his appearance and his title, however, suggests to the reader that he has two different ways of engaging with the world around him. Unfortunately, Werner experiences both versions of Dr. Hauptmann during their time together at Schulpforta. He initially amazes his teacher with his knowledge of circuits and motors, and this success leads him to become one of Dr. Hauptmann’s research assistants. The kindness that Dr. Hauptmann shows Werner during this time, which includes access to warmth and sweets as well as a heightened social status, reflects his more personable side. He still demands excellence when it comes to their research, but he takes on more of an educator role by giving Werner the tools he needs to succeed.
While casual conversation characterizes some of their evening work sessions, others are full of silence. This refusal to engage with his student on a personal level hints at Dr. Hauptmann’s alternatively harsh, authoritative attitude. Werner experiences the consequences of provoking this version of his teacher, for example, when he asks for permission to travel to Berlin. Many of the comments that Dr. Hauptmann makes about their work also reinforce his belief in the Nazis’ mission. His emphasis on serving “the interests of the time,” regarding their research as “pure math,” and admiring “the great project of the Reich” demonstrates that he fully embraces the destructive nature of the war. Dr. Hauptmann has zero regard for the well-being of others, especially when they offend him. This attitude is what drives him to accuse Werner of lying about his age as he departs Schulpforta. Knowing how brutal the front lines are, Dr. Hauptmann’s choice to condemn Werner to such a fate highlights his spitefulness.
