Baron Zemo Lore

Dive into the lore of Baron Zemo in Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra. Learn about his history as a top Nazi scientist, his role in HYDRA, and his major conflicts.

Hey there! So you're diving into Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra and want to know more about Baron Zemo? Awesome choice! He's a pretty significant figure, and understanding his past can really add to the experience. Let's break down his story. ### Baron Zemo's World War II History Baron Heinrich Zemo was one of Hitler's top scientists during World War II and became a co-leader of HYDRA. His main goal was to establish the Nazi Regime in the modern world, even if it meant his own country would become a failed state. It all kicked off around September 1939. After learning his family was killed by the British, Heinrich was furious. Hitler then invited him to a conference at Castle Wolfenstein. There, he was tasked with co-leading HYDRA, the SS Science Division, alongside Johann Schmidt. HYDRA's base was set up under Zemo's own Castle Zemo. By December 1939, Zemo and Schmidt had developed a Death Ray. They used it on the Austrian-German town of Zeulniz. When Hitler questioned the civilian deaths, Zemo falsely blamed the Allied Forces. Early in 1940, Jack Fury and the Howling Commandos exposed Zemo, forcing him to adopt his signature purple hood. Things got really intense in May 1940. Zemo led German Gas Troopers in an attack on Dunkirk. He ordered gas canisters thrown into homes, and when the French Super-Soldier Hyperspeed tried to evacuate people, Zemo killed him once he was weakened. After that, he fought with Union Jack and Captain Midlands. A week later, Zemo fled to Berlin and participated in an assault on Paris. He captured Hyperspeed II and wanted to execute him, but Johann Schmidt insisted on letting him make a stand. Zemo let him go, but was threatened by the French Super-Soldier. After Hyperspeed II vanished, Zemo led the Paris assault, killing French soldiers and eventually engaging in a sword duel with King Maximus. After Paris fell, Baron Zemo personally executed King Maximus on Hitler's orders. By March 1943, Zemo unleashed his Death Ray on Vienna, Austria. However, Captain America destroyed it and engaged Zemo in a fight. Zemo told Captain America there was no place for him in The New Order. On June 4, 1944, Zemo tried to defend his home from Captain America and Bucky. He attempted to use Adhesive X on Captain America, but the vat broke, covering Zemo himself. The Adhesive X melted and glued his hood to his face – a pretty nasty fate! Near the end of the war, on May 3, 1945, Zemo met with the Red Skull. Discussing the war's state, Zemo decided to be cryogenically frozen to avoid capture by the Allied Forces, heading to Zola's Laboratory section. ### Post-War and Later Conflicts Later, in 2014, he ordered Constantin von Djangovich to train under Baron Kilian Radic. Around 2016, Baron Zemo declared war on the United Kingdom for reasons that aren't fully clear. During this conflict, he told Emily Oxton about the loss of his first family before executing her and ordering a military camp to be burned. At the end of the Bloodshed War, Zemo's son informed him of the defeat of the Angelski Teufel. Zemo then ordered another wave of Angelski Teufel to attack the Union Fury and EKO Scorpion to attack a British Air Base. When the Union Fury was captured, they were brought before Zemo. Ezekiel-Amadeus Oxton proposed a Peace Treaty, and after some thought, Zemo signed it, ending the war. Months later, on February 27, 2023, Zemo addressed the Union Fury's attack on Sokovia, getting angry when Mortimer tried to downplay the United Kingdom's involvement. On March 1, 2023, Zemo's son reported the defeat of the Masters of Evil. Later that day, Zemo watched as the Winter Soldier brought Hildegard von Zidlitz to Castle Zemo and congratulated him. The source text cuts off here, but it's clear Zemo remained a major player. Keep an eye out for these events and characters as you play – they really flesh out the world of Marvel 1943!