(The following is an unedited short bio of the character.)

Danielle (Dani) Bauer

A policewoman who was attached to a special organization within the Munich Police Department that was assigned to get a handle on right-wing terrorism within the state of Bayern (Bavaria) that was about to earn her a ticket into the higher ranks of the München polizei.

However, that never happened.

On July 27, 1977 she was tragically killed when her car, rigged with explosives, exploded when the ignition was turned on—her daughter, Stefanie, watched on in horror.

Family History

Dani was born Danielle Katrin Lowery June 25, 1935 in München, Deutschland to Jakob and Elsa Lowery.  

Siblings: Peter, 18; Rebekkah, 10; Rolf, 7; Konstatine, 4; Monika (born 1940 in Portugal)

Relatives: Thomas Lowery (uncle); Marta Weissnacht (aunt);  August and Anna Zimmermann (maternal grandparents); Gustav and Berta Lowery (paternal grandparents); Josef and Elisabeth Kuntz  and their children: Rudi and Inga Kuntz; Karl and Maria Lowery and their children: Ernst and Sofia.

In 1935 it was two years into Adolf Hitler’s reign as chancellor of Germany and things are already tense. As Jews, the Lowery’s movements were severely restricted. There were concerns that certain persons were being arrested for no reason and sentence without a fair trial. And already, there were concerns about possibly having to run from the country they love.

As a decorated soldier in the First World War, Jakob Lowery felt safe and his connections within the military made him feel secure. However, things continued to spiral.

Just days after Kristallnacht on November 9-10, 1938—the Lowery’s fled Germany and headed for Portugal where they were assured of protection. Lowery’s (Rebekkah, Rolf, Monika and Danie) including Elsa’s parents  escaped to Portugal where they lived for ten years before returning to München in 1948.

Josef and Elisabeth and their children followed.

Peter Lowery was killed aboard his ship. The rest of the family was killed during the Nazi regime.

Upon returning to München, the two families tried to rebuild their lives.

Career

Danielle originally went to school to become a lawyer. However, in 1958 the country was still suffering the effects of the war. Danielle felt a need to hunt down those that not only conspired with the Nazis, but also profited from slave labor.

She became a police officer three years later. At that time, women police officers didn’t work the streets and primarily dealt with family and children cases. In 1965, she jumped at the opportunity to join a drug task force.

Also in 1965, she started dating U.S. Army Captain Thomas Bauer. Two years later they married. And two years later after that, they had twin daughters Stefanie and Tamara, followed by Monika and then son Thomas.

In 1972, she was undercover working the München Olympics when several Israel athletes were murdered. At this time, she joined a task force that the objective was to root out right-wing terrorism in Germany.

In 1977 she decided to leave the task force and police work all together. However, just days before she was effectively retire she was killed when her car exploded. The investigation never turned anything up and no arrests were ever made. The case remains open.