Lieutenant Hubert Gruber
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Hubert Gruber, generally known only as Lieutenant Gruber, is a fictional character from the British sitcom series 'Allo 'Allo!
and is portrayed by Guy Siner
.
Gruber is the aide-de-camp
to General Von Klinkerhoffen, and lives in the local château
. Later he also becomes the unofficial assistant of Colonel Von Strohm, after Captain Hans Geering
goes missing in Series 3.
Gruber is an Oberleutnant
in the Panzer division
in the Wehrmacht
(evidenced by the rose-pink piping
on his uniform and single gilt star on the silver epaulette), although in very early episodes he wears the rank of Leutnant. He is the recipient of the Iron Cross 1st Class
, Iron Cross 2nd Class, War Merit Cross 2nd Class, with Swords
, and Eastern Front Medal
.
He has an armoured car, which he often refers to as "my little tank" and is driven by the unseen character "Clarence". The vehicle resembles a Leichter Panzerspähwagen
, either the SdKfz. 222 or a modified Russian BA-64
. However dimensions and configuration (the show vehicle has a rear access - the real Panzerwagon does not), mean that the show vehicle only resembles an existing model of tank.
Gruber comes from Baden-Baden
. He attended art school in his youth, but was expelled (just after they had done fish). Prior to the war, he worked as a window dresser, and as an assistant in an art gallery in Cologne
. Later his artistic talent comes useful, when he is ordered by Colonel Von Strohm to make copies of the Fallen Madonna by Van Klomp (or "The Fallen Madonna With The Big Boobies"), and the Vase With Twelve Sunflowers
by Vincent Van Gogh
(referred also as "The Cracked Vase With The Big Daisies").
In the final episode, in the scene that takes place after the war is over, Gruber is revealed to have married Helga and fathered six children with her. He has become a successful art dealer, owns an international auction house and employs Colonel von Strohm as his driver.
, though his mannerisms and characteristics are that of a stereotypical gay male who has an obvious crush on René
. He often finds René in embarrassing situations, for example by walking into a room and catching René in his underpants.
Nevertheless, in the last episode of the series, we discover that Lieutenant Gruber has married Helga, with whom he has had six children after the war, and he is a wealthy art salesmen. He hired his former superior Colonel Von Strohm as his chauffeur. This marriage led to confusion as to whether he was really homosexual or if he pretended in order to obtain vital information from both allies and enemies without creating any suspicions to either party. However, in The Return of 'Allo 'Allo!
, it was specifically made clear that Gruber was intended to be gay
, even though it's shown in the last episode that he could also maintain a relationship with a woman - effectively making him bisexual.
'Allo 'Allo!
'Allo 'Allo! is a British sitcom broadcast on BBC One from 1982 to 1992 comprising eighty-five episodes. It is a parody of another BBC programme, the wartime drama Secret Army, and was created by David Croft, who also wrote the theme music, and Jeremy Lloyd. Lloyd and Croft wrote the first 6...
and is portrayed by Guy Siner
Guy Siner
Guy Siner is an American-born English actor known for his role as Lieutenant Hubert Gruber in the British television series Allo 'Allo!.-Early life:...
.
Gruber is the aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to General Von Klinkerhoffen, and lives in the local château
Château
A château is a manor house or residence of the lord of the manor or a country house of nobility or gentry, with or without fortifications, originally—and still most frequently—in French-speaking regions...
. Later he also becomes the unofficial assistant of Colonel Von Strohm, after Captain Hans Geering
Captain Hans Geering
Captain Hans Geering is a fictional character from the British sitcom series Allo 'Allo!. He was played by actor Sam Kelly.- First episode :Hans is Colonel Kurt Von Strohm's assistant and usually comes with him to the café...
goes missing in Series 3.
Gruber is an Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant is a junior officer rank in the militaries of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Translated as "Senior Lieutenant", the rank is typically bestowed upon commissioned officers after five to six years of active duty...
in the Panzer division
Panzer Division
A panzer division was an armored division in the army and air force branches of the Wehrmacht as well as the Waffen-SS of Nazi Germany during World War II....
in the Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
(evidenced by the rose-pink piping
Waffenfarbe
Waffenfarbe is a means the German military uses to distinguish between different corps or troop functions in its armed services...
on his uniform and single gilt star on the silver epaulette), although in very early episodes he wears the rank of Leutnant. He is the recipient of the Iron Cross 1st Class
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
, Iron Cross 2nd Class, War Merit Cross 2nd Class, with Swords
War Merit Cross
The War Merit Cross was a decoration of Nazi Germany during the Second World War, which could be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel...
, and Eastern Front Medal
Eastern Front Medal
The Eastern Front Medal, , more commonly known as the Ostmedaille was instituted on May 26, 1942 to mark service on the German Eastern Front during the period November 15, 1941 to April 15, 1942...
.
He has an armoured car, which he often refers to as "my little tank" and is driven by the unseen character "Clarence". The vehicle resembles a Leichter Panzerspähwagen
Leichter Panzerspähwagen
The Leichter Panzerspähwagen were a series of light four-wheel drive armoured cars produced by Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1944....
, either the SdKfz. 222 or a modified Russian BA-64
BA-64
The BA-64 was a 4×4 light armoured car, employed by the Soviet Army from 1942 into the early 1960s for reconnaissance and liaison tasks.The BA-64B was nicknamed 'Bobik' by its crews. The total recorded number of BA-64s produced differs even in Russian sources...
. However dimensions and configuration (the show vehicle has a rear access - the real Panzerwagon does not), mean that the show vehicle only resembles an existing model of tank.
Gruber comes from Baden-Baden
Baden-Baden
Baden-Baden is a spa town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is located on the western foothills of the Black Forest, on the banks of the Oos River, in the region of Karlsruhe...
. He attended art school in his youth, but was expelled (just after they had done fish). Prior to the war, he worked as a window dresser, and as an assistant in an art gallery in Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
. Later his artistic talent comes useful, when he is ordered by Colonel Von Strohm to make copies of the Fallen Madonna by Van Klomp (or "The Fallen Madonna With The Big Boobies"), and the Vase With Twelve Sunflowers
Sunflowers (series of paintings)
Sunflowers are the subject of two series of still life paintings by the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh. The earlier series executed in Paris in 1887 gives the flowers lying on the ground, while the second set executed a year later in Arles shows bouquets of sunflowers in a vase...
by Vincent Van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh
Vincent Willem van Gogh , and used Brabant dialect in his writing; it is therefore likely that he himself pronounced his name with a Brabant accent: , with a voiced V and palatalized G and gh. In France, where much of his work was produced, it is...
(referred also as "The Cracked Vase With The Big Daisies").
In the final episode, in the scene that takes place after the war is over, Gruber is revealed to have married Helga and fathered six children with her. He has become a successful art dealer, owns an international auction house and employs Colonel von Strohm as his driver.
Sexual orientation
Gruber never admitted his sexualitySexual orientation
Sexual orientation describes a pattern of emotional, romantic, or sexual attractions to the opposite sex, the same sex, both, or neither, and the genders that accompany them. By the convention of organized researchers, these attractions are subsumed under heterosexuality, homosexuality,...
, though his mannerisms and characteristics are that of a stereotypical gay male who has an obvious crush on René
René François Artois
René François Artois is a fictional character, the main character in the BBC sitcom Allo 'Allo!, which ran from 1982 to 1992. The character was played by the actor Gorden Kaye...
. He often finds René in embarrassing situations, for example by walking into a room and catching René in his underpants.
Nevertheless, in the last episode of the series, we discover that Lieutenant Gruber has married Helga, with whom he has had six children after the war, and he is a wealthy art salesmen. He hired his former superior Colonel Von Strohm as his chauffeur. This marriage led to confusion as to whether he was really homosexual or if he pretended in order to obtain vital information from both allies and enemies without creating any suspicions to either party. However, in The Return of 'Allo 'Allo!
The Return of 'Allo 'Allo!
The Return of 'Allo 'Allo! is a one-off special episode of the sitcom 'Allo 'Allo!The Return of 'Allo 'Allo! was broadcast LIVE on BBC1 on 28 April 2007 at 9pm. The storyline involves René writing his memoirs after the war. The new scenes are interspersed with clips from the original series and...
, it was specifically made clear that Gruber was intended to be gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
, even though it's shown in the last episode that he could also maintain a relationship with a woman - effectively making him bisexual.