Anton Grubitz is a high rank Stasi officer and a professor in Stasi school. He is about the same age as his subordinate Gerd Wiesler. He is less talented and detail oriented than Wiesler, but he advanced faster professionally because of his ability to be a politician in a workplace and easy adaptation to corrupt nature of Stasi. He does not care much about integrity of his work, but rather about visibility of success so that he can advance closer to the top ranks. Precisely this goal monivates Grubitz to accept the request of minister Hempf to monitor Georg Dreyman's apartment as he thinks Hempf is his ticket upwards.