Who is Rachel Jansen from Black Cross and what is their importance? Black_Cross_(novel) English & Literature Rachel Jansen | Black Cross

Rachel Jansen is the newly widowed Jewess prisoner in Totenhausen Camp, along with her two children Jan and Hannah. Rachel's father-in-law tried to buy the life of her husband with a pocket of diamonds, but in doing so he made Rachel's life at prison far worse. Rachel is befriended by the Shoemaker, who witnessed Rachel's husband's death and provided her with two of the diamonds that were used in a bid for his life. Eventually, Rachel is noticed by one of the officers of the camp who has been taken by her beauty. Because of this, Rachel becomes the Schorner's secret lover and uses this as a way to protect her children within the camp. However, as she is bedding Schorner, his rivalry with Sturm causes Rachel to be the victim of many attacks on her person intended to harm Schorner indirectly.