Hannah Kahnwald
Mother of Jonas, widow of Michael, and a woman whose obsession with Ulrich Nielsen shapes her actions across decades.
Hannah Kahnwald (portrayed by Maja Schöne and Ella Lee) is the mother of Jonas Kahnwald and widow of Michael Kahnwald. In 1986, Hannah is shown to have an obsession with Ulrich Nielsen, even going as far as to accuse him of rape after discovering his affair with Katharina. In 2019, Hannah is having an affair with Ulrich, one which comes to an abrupt end due to Mikkel's disappearance.
- Role
- Protagonist / Victim
- Affiliation
- Kahnwald Family (Original), Doppler Family (Alternate)
- First Appears
- 1986 Timeline (as a child), 2019/2020 Timelines (as an adult)
- Status
- Deceased in Original Cycle, Erased in Final Loop
- Key Relationship
- Adam (Her future self in the alternate timeline)
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
In 1986, Hannah's obsession with Ulrich Nielsen leads her to falsely accuse him of rape after she discovers his affair with Katharina. By 2019, she is having an affair with Ulrich herself, which ends abruptly when Mikkel disappears. Hannah is also aware of Aleksander Tiedemann's true identity as Boris Niewald and uses this knowledge to blackmail him into doing as she demands. In 1954, Egon Tiedemann has an affair with Hannah and impregnates her; Hannah initially intends to get an abortion but backs out last minute, traveling to 1987 and giving birth to Egon's daughter Silja in 1988.
In Their Own Story
Hannah Kahnwald's life is marked by obsession and manipulation. In 1986, her fixation on Ulrich Nielsen drives her to accuse him of rape after learning of his affair with Katharina. Decades later, in 2019, she is herself having an affair with Ulrich, which ends when his son Mikkel vanishes. Hannah also holds a secret over Aleksander Tiedemann, knowing his real name is Boris Niewald and using that to blackmail him. Her affair with Egon Tiedemann in 1954 results in a pregnancy; she nearly aborts but instead travels to 1987, giving birth to Silja in 1988.
Reader's Guide
Hannah Kahnwald appears across multiple timelines. As a child in 1986, she is portrayed by Ella Lee; as an adult in 2019, by Maja Schöne. Her key actions include: falsely accusing Ulrich Nielsen of rape in 1986; having an affair with Ulrich in 2019; blackmailing Aleksander Tiedemann using his true identity; and having an affair with Egon Tiedemann in 1954, which leads to the birth of Silja in 1988. She is the mother of Jonas Kahnwald and the widow of Michael Kahnwald (formerly Mikkel Nielsen).
Did You Know?
- Hannah Kahnwald is portrayed by two actresses: Maja Schöne as an adult and Ella Lee as a child.
- In 1986, Hannah falsely accuses Ulrich Nielsen of rape after discovering his affair with Katharina.
- Hannah is aware that Aleksander Tiedemann's real name is Boris Niewald and uses this to blackmail him.
- In 1954, Hannah has an affair with Egon Tiedemann and becomes pregnant, giving birth to Silja in 1988.
- Hannah's affair with Ulrich Nielsen in 2019 ends abruptly due to the disappearance of Mikkel Nielsen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Hannah Kahnwald?
She is Jonas Kahnwald’s mother and the widow of Michael Kahnwald in the original timeline. Her life is defined by a decades-long obsession with Ulrich Nielsen that impacts multiple generations.
What role does Hannah Kahnwald play?
Although she cannot travel through time, her personal choices drive the lineage paradoxes central to the series. She acts as a catalyst for Jonas’s existence and his eventual transformation into Adam in the original cycle.
How does Hannah Kahnwald's story end?
She dies alongside young Jonas in a car accident while fleeing through time during the final loop. Ultimately, she is erased from reality when the knot is untied to prevent the apocalypse.
Why is Hannah Kahnwald important?
Her affair with Ulrich Nielsen creates the bloodline connections necessary for the time travel paradoxes to function. Without her specific actions regarding both families, the cycle of destruction would not have occurred.
What happened between Hannah and Ulrich Nielsen?
They shared a toxic relationship starting when she was a child in 1986 that persisted into their adulthood in 2019. The affair ended abruptly after Mikkel disappeared, leaving her vulnerable to the timeline's collapse.
More in Characters & Roles
Elsewhere in the Dark universe
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