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!"

- Baron von Strucker

Wolfgang von Strucker was a German and one of the leaders of HYDRA. Originally a sleeper agent in S.H.I.E.L.D., he recruited for HYDRA's cause those who became unsatisfied with the way the agency was led. Around the time of the Battle at the Triskelion, he openly deserted S.H.I.E.L.D., becoming one of HYDRA's leaders after the death of Alexander Pierce.

His base of operations was discovered and attacked by the Avengers, leading to his capture. Shortly afterwards, he was murdered in his cell by Ultron, effectively reducing HYDRA to just a few disorganized leaderless cells.

Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
As one of the high-ranking members of HYDRA, 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 Strucker's secret facility in Sokovia.

Strucker's scientists began to power weapons using the Scepter. Although Dr. 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.

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 Doctor 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 Dr. List. Strucker remained calm as he believed he would not be discovered and their work with the Chitauri Scepter would make them unstoppable. When List asked him how to proceed, Strucker said that he would sacrifice a few of the facilities to keep their enemies off their scent. List asked Strucker about what he intended to do with the volunteers for their experiments, and Strucker ordered that 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 struggle to control their new powers while locked in their cells, Strucker replied that their enemies 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 Leadership
"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. After Phil Coulson arranged for the remnants of HYDRA leaders to kill each other, Baron von Strucker became the last high commander of HYDRA. Some time later, Dr. 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.

Apprehension
"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

Not long after the twins learned how to control their powers, the Avengers assaulted the HYDRA Research Base where Strucker and List were stationed. Though List wanted to send the twins against the Avengers, Strucker claimed they were not ready, and that his men could delay the attackers long enough for someone to escape with the data they collected and continue their work. However, when Iron Man destroyed the energy field that was protecting the base, Strucker decided to surrender, hoping to keep the Avengers too occupied to notice the secret entrance to the main laboratory where he and Dr. List did the majority of their work.

When the Avengers broke into the base, Strucker was confronted by Captain America. Before Strucker could be captured, Wanda Maximoff crept up on Captain America and used her powers to throw him down the stairs. Rogers quickly recovered and knocked out Strucker by hitting him in the face with his shield, where his monocle broke. After the battle, Strucker was handed over to NATO.

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

- Tony Stark and Steve Rogers

While incarcerated, Ultron tracked down Strucker and demanded to know where he could he 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.

Personality
"Baron Strucker. HYDRA's number one thug." "Technically, I'm a thug for S.H.I.E.L.D."

- Captain America and Wolfgang von Strucker

Like all of HYDRA's leaders, Strucker has 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.

Allies

 * HYDRA
 * List † - Right-Hand Man
 * Daniel Whitehall †
 * Octavian Bloom †
 * Sheikh †
 * Baroness †
 * Banker †
 * Mark Smith - Subordinate
 * Mark Basso - Subordinate
 * Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch - Ally turned Enemy
 * Pietro Maximoff/Quicksilver † - Ally turned Enemy

Video Game Only

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

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
 * 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 final days of World War II. He was also the father of twins who were super-powered through genetic manipulation.
 * In the animated series , Baron von Strucker was Red Skull's second in command during World War II.
 * Strucker is portrayed without his characteristic facial scars from the comics.

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.