Wolfgang von Strucker

"It's not a world of spies anymore. Not even a world of heroes. This is the age of miracles, doctor. There is nothing more horrifying than a miracle!"

- Wolfgang von Strucker to List

Wolfgang von Strucker was a German and one of the leaders of HYDRA. He trained alongside Hale and Jasper Sitwell at the HYDRA Preparatory Academy, Strucker passed his tests and became a personal student of Daniel Whitehall and later an important part in overseeing the beginning of the Project Destroyer of Worlds, which in turn led to the creation of the new soldiers for HYDRA including the Absorbing Man. Having become a sleeper agent within S.H.I.E.L.D., Strucker recruited for HYDRA's cause those who became unsatisfied with the way the agency was led, while also raising his son Werner von Strucker who he deemed to be a disappointment to their cause and not a suitable leader.

In the aftermath of the Battle of New York, Strucker's HYDRA cell secretly took possession of Loki's Scepter which was confiscated by S.H.I.E.L.D. Over the next two years, Strucker and his deputy Doctor List used the Scepter's powers to experiment on many human volunteers in HYDRA's Sokovian base, aiming to create an army of enhanced people who would serve HYDRA. Around the time of the Battle at the Triskelion, Strucker deserted S.H.I.E.L.D., but as the continuing War on HYDRA raged, he eventually became one of the last few surviving heads of HYDRA. His base of operations was discovered and attacked by the Avengers, leading to his capture before he was murdered in his cell by Ultron, which effectively reduced HYDRA to just a few disorganized cells.

HYDRA Preparatory Academy
"Imagine a man with the density of lead, with the volatility of cesium. The possibilities are endless. Can someone name another substance suitable for infusion? Yes, Mr. Von Strucker." "Why not use Red Skull's Tesseract? It's the greatest power source we've ever had." "Intriguing. Looking to our past for inspiration."

- Daniel Whitehall and Wolfgang von Strucker

Wolfgang von Strucker was born in a family of German barons which had a large influence in HYDRA. He attended the HYDRA Preparatory Academy and gained popularity among students due to his family name. As he was approaching graduation he attended a guest lecture on his last day given by one of the current HYDRA heads, Daniel Whitehall. He listened as Whitehall introduced the Particle Infusion Chamber to the class, intended to be used to create their own super soldier stronger than Steve Rogers and asked for a suggestion. Strucker suggested using the Tesseract which was used by Red Skull which Whitehall acknowledged. But his idea was criticised by classmate Hale as it would blow their cover within S.H.I.E.L.D. and suggested using elements from the outer space which Whitehall appreciated for her forward thinking. This made Strucker jealous. Next day in the gym Strucker had his friends play a prank on Hale for revenge. It agitated Hale to the point where she attacked Strucker and was in turn badly assaulted by his friends. Strucker graduated and was assigned to work on the Particle Infusion Chamber. Eventually Strucker became a HYDRA undercover agent within S.H.I.E.L.D..

Secret Life
"My father, so rarely, let me see any of his world."

- Werner von Strucker

Wolfgang von Strucker kept his professional life, as a member of HYDRA and S.H.I.E.L.D., separated from his personal life, his son Werner. Though he made sure that Werner was very well financially supported, Strucker did not share his business with him, concerning HYDRA. Strucker had some overlapping interests with the ruthless United States Armed Forces officer Hale, another HYDRA member, who often visited him, even though she actually hated him. During one such visit, Strucker beat Werner after Hale's daughter, Ruby, hit her head while playing with Werner. This wasn't the only time Strucker beat his son.

Strucker eventually became good friends with the fellow HYDRA head Gideon Malick, who considered him a great man. Malick was also the only other HYDRA head that Strucker's son Werner knew about. Strucker also made some business with the black-market arms dealer Ulysses Klaue. Over the years, he became the leader of the European faction of HYDRA. One of Strucker's experiments resulted in the boxer Carl Creel attaining the ability to absorb any element and turn his skin into that same material.

Hidden Vaults
"Strucker has many vaults. I know them all."

- Grant Ward

Strucker had many vaults hidden around the world, filled with numerous mysterious artifacts. As one of the five most powerful leaders of HYDRA, Strucker knew the legend of HYDRA's origin and its true purpose. The vault in Zepkow, Germany contained a piece of the Monolith that was used by the Inhumans to banish "the HYDRA God" to the planet Maveth thousands of years ago, and which HYDRA hoped to use to bring him back to Earth to conquer it.

Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
"There will soon come a time where we will make our own destiny."

- Wolfgang von Strucker

As one of the high-ranking members of HYDRA within S.H.I.E.L.D., Baron von Strucker was charged with various science projects, including advanced weaponry. After the Battle of New York, Strucker desired the Scepter, which S.H.I.E.L.D. acquired, and began to study it in the S.H.I.E.L.D. S.T.A.T.I.O.N. facility. After a HYDRA mole inside that facility informed Strucker that one of the scientists working on the Scepter, Mark Smith, was a potential HYDRA recruit, Strucker decided to recruit Smith personally. Following the successful recruitment of Smith into HYDRA, Strucker ordered him and another HYDRA mole to retrieve the Scepter. Smith and his HYDRA colleague retrieved the Scepter and transported it to Baron Strucker's HYDRA Research Base in Sokovia.

Strucker's scientists began to power weapons using the Scepter. Although Doctor List considered the weapon's results to be remarkable, they were not to Strucker's satisfaction; he ordered List to recruit human volunteers among the rioters of Sokovia to get the results he desired. Many of the volunteers died in the experiments; the twins Pietro and Wanda Maximoff gained extraordinary powers as a result of the experiments. Despite all the progress HYDRA made with the Scepter, they only managed to "scratch the surface", according to Strucker, because he believed the jewel in the Scepter was hiding many more secrets.

The End of S.H.I.E.L.D.
"HYDRA. S.H.I.E.L.D. Two sides of a coin that's no longer currency. What we have... is worth more than any of them ever knew. We've only scratched the surface and already..."

- Wolfgang von Strucker to List

In 2014, Strucker was stationed in his research base in Sokovia and was informed of the destruction of the Triskelion and the revelation of all of HYDRA's secrets inside S.H.I.E.L.D. by Doctor List. Strucker remained calm as Nick Fury had revealed to the public only the secrets he knew about and HYDRA's work with the Chitauri Scepter were unknown. Strucker told List that he would sacrifice a few of the facilities to keep their enemies off their scent for now. List asked Strucker about what he intended to do with the volunteers for their experiments, and Strucker ordered their bodies be buried deep in the ground. List then asked him about the only surviving volunteers, Pietro and Wanda Maximoff. As they watched the twins, Strucker replied that the Avengers would sooner or later meet "The Twins", and that with the age of spies and heroes at an end, in the age of miracles, nothing is more horrifying than a miracle.

HYDRA's Crisis
"Since Strucker is overseas, I assume you report to someone else." "That's correct."

- Grant Ward and Sunil Bakshi

Grant Ward knew that Strucker was overseas, so he asked Sunil Bakshi who the American leader of HYDRA was. He learned that Daniel Whitehall was that person. Strucker was not able to attend the biannual meeting of HYDRA leaders held at the mansion of Octavian Bloom; he sent Doctor List in his place instead. Strucker, through List, sent his condolences on the death of Daniel Whitehall and expressed his wish to see Sunil Bakshi in the position formerly held by Whitehall. Strucker also advised the other HYDRA leaders to stop underestimating S.H.I.E.L.D..

When Phil Coulson arranged for the remnants of HYDRA leaders to kill each other, Baron von Strucker became one of the last high commanders of HYDRA. Doctor List confirmed to Sunil Bakshi that Baron von Strucker was in Eastern Europe. Some time later, Strucker was called by List who informed him that he managed to capture Mike Peterson and Lincoln Campbell, two enhanced individuals who could become a great asset to HYDRA. Strucker was pleased with the news.

Attack on the HYDRA Research Base
"We will not yield. The Americans send their circus freaks to test us. We will send them back, in bags. No surrender!"

- Wolfgang von Strucker

By 2015, Strucker's cell was researching the Scepter, a Leviathan's corpse, and the Chitauri Armors and guns, successfully reverse-engineering the Chitauri tech to be used by HYDRA's troops and greatly upgrading HYDRA's arsenal. Using the power of Loki's Scepter, Baron Strucker's scientists had even experimented with Artificial Intelligence, from which they designed very advanced robots. However, Strucker's actions also attracted the attention of the Avengers due to Phil Coulson and S.H.I.E.L.D.'s interference. Just when Strucker and List were on the verge of their greatest breakthrough, the Avengers assaulted the HYDRA Research Base. Strucker ordered his men to deploy the HYDRA Tanks against the attackers. Though Doctor List wanted to send out the Maximoff twins, Strucker claimed they were not ready to fight. Believing that his men could still hold the attackers, Strucker decided to continue the fight, which caused heavy damage in Novi Grad. However, Iron Man destroyed the base's energy field, shutting down the force field around the main building, leaving Strucker and his men practically defenseless. Strucker decided to surrender, ordering List to delete all the data they had collected. Strucker intended to give the Avengers HYDRA's weapons, hoping to keep them too occupied to find the secret laboratory where he and List did the majority of their work and where the Scepter was located. His last order to his men was to keep resisting the Avengers. When the Avengers broke into the base, Strucker was confronted by Captain America. Strucker offered no resistance, saying that he knew when he was beaten. When Captain America asked Strucker about the survivors of HYDRA's experiments, Wanda Maximoff appeared, using her powers to throw him down the stairs. Captain America quickly recovered and knocked out Strucker by hitting him in the face with his shield. Strucker was handed over to NATO.

Imprisonment and Death
"What's this?" "A message, Ultron killed Strucker."

- Tony Stark and Steve Rogers

While Strucker was incarcerated, Ultron found him and demanded to know where he could locate Vibranium. Once Strucker informed him that he could get it from Ulysses Klaue, Ultron murdered Strucker by hitting his head hard against the wall, painting the word "PEACE" on the prison wall with Strucker's own blood - a direct message to the Avengers. Strucker was confirmed dead on WHiH World News five days later.

HYDRA Power Struggle
"Your father kept you in the dark and then died a meaningless death, leaving you a HYDRA face with no answers. I know what it's like to come from a complicated family. HYDRA's fractured, in pieces. We're gonna rebuild it, the right way. By force."

- Grant Ward to Werner von Strucker

Despite his somewhat meaningless death, Strucker was still remembered by his successors as one of HYDRA's greatest leaders. Strucker and List's deaths left HYDRA fractured and weak, until another former HYDRA double agent within S.H.I.E.L.D. Grant Ward started a campaign to reunify HYDRA, for which he recruited Strucker's son Werner. This eventually led to Ward forming an alliance with Gideon Malick, Strucker's old associate and the leader of the HYDRA faction that worshiped the ancient Inhuman Hive.

Personality
"Baron Strucker. HYDRA's number one thug." "Technically, I'm a thug for S.H.I.E.L.D." "Well then technically you're unemployed."

- Captain America and Wolfgang von Strucker

Like all of HYDRA's leaders, Strucker had little to no morality at all. He was perfectly fine with performing experiments on human beings, not worrying about how many of them would die, as he believed that the results gathered from the experiments would contribute to HYDRA's cause. He was also unconcerned about the civilian casualties in the nearby city of Novi Grad during the Attack on the HYDRA Research Base.

According to another HYDRA head Gideon Malick, Strucker understood that protecting assets was more important than flaunting them, as he would never foolishly put an untested young operative in play without proper training. However, General Hale claimed that Strucker was one of the reasons why HYDRA went off the rails.

During his adolescence, Strucker proved himself to be an arrogant and over-confident individual with a tendency towards bullying and misogyny. His heritage as a von Strucker and devotion to the glory of HYDRA's past made him relatively popular amongst the student body of the HYDRA Preparatory Academy as well as the Hydra leadership as he was pre-selected to eventually become a head of Hydra. He and his clique would often harass less popular students such as Jasper Sitwell and Hale by demeaning them in a variety of manners.

Abilities

 * Expert Strategist: When Project Insight failed in its objective and HYDRA's existence was revealed to the world, Strucker quickly decided to sacrifice a few HYDRA bases to keep the Avengers from discovering the location of his Sokovian base so he and Dr. List could continue with their research of the Chitauri tech and the Scepter undisturbed. When his base was attacked by the Avengers, he ordered his soldiers to concentrate their fire on the weaker Avengers, hoping to force them to close ranks so they could be all attacked at the same time.

Weapons

 * Handgun: As a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and a HYDRA operative, Strucker always carried a handgun which served as his personal side-arm.

Family

 * Werner von Strucker † - Son

Allies

 * HYDRA
 * List † - Right-Hand Man
 * Gideon Malick †
 * Daniel Whitehall † - Mentor
 * Octavian Bloom †
 * Sheikh †
 * Baroness †
 * Banker †
 * Carmine
 * Mark Smith - Subordinate
 * Mark Basso - Subordinate
 * Hale - Classmate and Rival
 * Jasper Sitwell † - Classmate
 * Steger † - Professor
 * Carl Creel - Test Subject
 * Ruby †
 * Ulysses Klaue †

Video Game Only

 * Johann Schmidt/Red Skull - Leader
 * Arnim Zola - Superior Officer
 * Ophelia Sarkissian/Madame Hydra
 * Helmut Gruler/Iron Cross
 * Heinrich Zemo - Unwilling Ally

Enemies

 * S.H.I.E.L.D.
 * Nick Fury
 * Avengers
 * Tony Stark/Iron Man
 * Steve Rogers/Captain America
 * Thor
 * Bruce Banner/Hulk
 * Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow
 * Clint Barton/Hawkeye
 * Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch - Test Subject turned Enemy
 * Pietro Maximoff/Quicksilver † - Test Subject turned Enemy
 * Ultron † - Killer

Trivia

 * In the non-canon video game Captain America: Super Soldier, Baron von Strucker is an officer of HYDRA during World War II. He commands the HYDRA troops stationed at Castle Zemo and eventually clashes with Captain America in 1944.
 * In the comics, Adolf Hitler ordered his men to kill Strucker, which is why he escaped from Germany and organized HYDRA in the Japanese-occupied territory in the middle of World War II. He was also the father of three children of Werner Von Strucker and the Fenris (also known as the Strucker twins) who were super-powered through genetic manipulation.

Behind the Scenes

 * Thomas Kretschmann was uncredited for his appearance in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
 * Wolfgang von Strucker was planned to appear in Captain America: The First Avenger but the idea was ultimately rejected.
 * Ross Kohnstam was a stunt double for Joey Defore in the role of Wolfgang von Strucker.
 * Wolfgang von Strucker in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is the second live-action incarnation of the character, following an incarnation portrayed by.