Hans Günsche

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Captain Hans Günsche (ハンス・ギュンシュ大尉, Captain Hansu Gyunshu^?) is a character in the manga Hellsing and a member of the Millennium forces and the Waffen-SS. He may have been named after Otto Günsche.

The Captain is Major Max's silent, stoic adjutant and bodyguard. Unlike the Major and Lieutenant Rip van Winkle, he still wears a full uniform in the main story, which is similar to a M42 Greatcoat with its neckguard constantly turned up, and an M43 officer's cap emblazoned with the Totenkopf symbol. The Captain is a natural werewolf, able to transform at will and fight in either human or werewolf form.

The Captain possesses immense superhuman ability, even while in human form. This includes superhuman strength (surpassing even Anderson's), speed, reflexes, and dexterity. His iron-like flesh can withstand Walter's wires (which can easily slice solid steel), even as they are tightened around his bare neck. He seems to be able to fall great distances without sustaining any damage, as seen in chapter 58, Wizardry (2). Günsche has some regenerative ability, as he quickly regenerated his mutilated hand in The Dawn. In addition to his natural abilities, the Captain possesses a modified C96 "Broomhandle" Mauser with an incredibly long barrel, and a combat knife that he has not used yet.

The mysterious SS officer fought a fourteen year-old Walter C. Dornez as well as Alucard during an attack on Millennium's main research facility in Warsaw during World War II, in the prequel story Hellsing: The Dawn. He squared off with Walter and managed to resist his wires, then choke him into submission before the fight was interrupted by the vampire. Alucard, on the other hand, backed out after getting kicked in half by the Captain, and left Walter to fend for himself while chasing after the Major. It is believed, based on information in the main storyline, that Walter came to an agreement with Millennium and left the compound, having seemingly aided in the destruction of the early undead soldier project. However, there is no official word that explicitly confirms or denies this yet.

Over 55 years later, Günsche was sent to retrieve Walter for a vampirification process, during the invasion of England in 2000. He blocked the road for Integra Hellsing's car, Walter then urged his master to flee, and attacked Günsche with his wires. The Captain caught them in his hands, and it looked like it would lead into a great duel...except the duel was not shown. The Major had other plans and Günsche brought Walter to Millennium so he could be brainwashed and made into an immortal servant. Later on, Günsche leaped from the Major's zeppelin to confront both Alucard and Alexander Anderson. He was surprised to see Alucard's 'counter-attack', and backed off for the time being.

He appears in the manga and OVA series, and as a silhouette to the left of the Major in the promo-video for the original Hellsing TV series.

• Several facts about this man were revealed in later chapters of The Dawn. In chapter 4, after waking up and exiting his coffin, Alucard immediately sensed that Günsche was neither human nor vampire, and remarked that he thought his kind had been wiped out long ago.
• In chapter 5, the Captain had his right arm blown off by Alucard, but he quickly regenerated it and transformed into a "wolf-man". Although this might seem to imply that all of Millennium's officers and top soldiers are lycanthropes, the term used for their elite soldiers is a reference to the historical Werwolf forces, with Günsche being the only actual 'werewolf'. Also, in chapter 5, the Major makes a pun alluding to this difference when questioned by his officers about the Captain being enough defense against Walter and Alucard.

Although he was seen in chapter 68 Might and Magic (2) with long strands of hair forming on his face, chapter 74 Relics shows Günsche swiftly shooting Heinkel Wolfe in his human form. It is revealed in chapter 76 Finesthour that he deliberately shot through her cheek to spare Heinkel's life. The Captain attempts to directly communicate with Heinkel by making gestures with his head, which is interpreted as a warning to stay out of his way. After tossing Heinkel a first aid kit, he leaps up into the air and departs. This scene has been a subject of interest to many fans. The Captain, a werewolf with superspeed, superstrength, and the ability to regenerate, would have no need for a first aid kit. Hirano's intentions in making Günsche spare Heinkel remain unclear.

At the end of chapter 81, the Captain confronts Seras and Sir Integra, who are storming the Major's zeppelin. It seems likely that they will engage in combat.