In 1944, in the last summer of the war, Wehrmacht soldier Walter Proska makes his way back from home leave to the Eastern Front. On the train he meets the young Polish woman Wanda, who places a bomb in the carriage.
In the 'Waldesruh' camp, Proska becomes friends with the student Wolfgang Kürschner. After Stehauf murders the village priest, Kürschner calls on Proska to refuse obedience and defect to the partisans with him.
In Russian captivity, Proska is at the end of his strength. A serious foot injury makes it impossible for him to continue marching in the baggage train. Then his friend Wolfgang Kürschner discovers him among the prisoners.
The war is coming to an end. Walter Proska works in the Soviet headquarters in Berlin, where he issues passes. One day Willy Stehauf is standing in his office. He wants to make his way to Cologne in the hope that his son is still alive.
