This powerful anti-war film statement focuses on the plight of a German unit in World War I that finds itself surrounded by British and French forces.

WWII is entering its last phase: Germany is in ruins, but does not yield. The US army lacks crucial knowledge about the German units operating on the opposite side of the Rhine, and decides to send two German prisoners to gather information. The scheme is risky: the Gestapo retains a terribly efficient network to identify and capture spies and deserters. Moreover, it is not clear that "Tiger", who does not mind any dirty work as long as the price is right, and war-weary "Happy", who might be easily betrayed by his feelings, are dependable agents. After Tiger and another American agent are successfully infiltrated, Happy is parachuted in Bavaria. His duty: find out the whereabouts of a powerful German armored unit moving towards the western front.

Violanta lives with her parents in a poor cottage in the mountains in Austria. Her family is frowned upon by the local population since her father is a drunk and suspected by the villagers to have caused the death of one of the farmers. One day handsome Marianus Renner comes along. He sees Violanta and immediately starts courting her, They become involved in a relationship, until one day he suddenly does not come to her usual appointment.

The complicated love story between a dancer and a sophisticated man, which is severely disrupted by a calculating little girl. An unbelievable social melodrama; shallowly and superficially staged.

Gabriele is engaged to Rainer who goes to war in 1914. When her father loses all his money she agrees to marry the affluent Robert. Then she is notified that Rainer has been wounded, is dying and has asked to see her one more time.

Hans, a young journeyman violin maker, meets and falls in love with Christel. But he has to go to Milan for a year. Before he leaves, the two get engaged. Christel's mother, who is against the union, intercepts Hans' letters from Italy.

Border Inspector Reitlechner fights in vain against a stubborn gang of smugglers led by the pretty innkeeper Retta. When a colleague is shot during an operation, suspicion falls on Reitlechner.

Farmer Regina suffers greatly from her childlessness, because it means that the Hallwanger farm has no heir. A former suitor, whom she rejected for Martin Hallwanger's sake, also torments her with references to her childlessness.