Helmut Benz was a German villager. In 1631, he was leading a group of villagers who were fleeing from Count Tilly's mercenaries in the aftermath of the sack of Magdeburg. Benz and the group saw the Ring of Fire itself. Not long after, they encountered G.W. Torbert and witnessed him killing several mercenaries to prevent them from raping three women. Benz, the only English-speaker in the group, was able to communicate withTorbert (who also spoke modern German) and plead for assistance. Tobert agreed to shelter the group on his farm. Initially, Benz found Tobert too trusting, but also realized that Tobert could supply Benz's with people with food and water.