The Nazi Party's rise to power has disastrous consequences for a German family in this drama. Victor Roth is a college professor teaching in Germany in 1933 who leads a peaceful and contented life with his wife Emelie, son Rudi, daughter Freya and stepsons Otto and Erich. However, Adolph Hitler's emergence as Germany's ruler has an unexpected impact on their lives. Fritz and Martin both vie for Freya's hand in marriage, but anti-Nazi activist Martin is forced to flee to Austria, while Freya is disturbed by Fritz's membership in a pro-fascist group. Victor repudiates Hitler's theories about Aryan superiority in class, and he not only loses his teaching position, but he is sentenced to a concentration camp. And while Emelie and Rudi join Freya as she tries to escape to Martin's new home in Austria, they find themselves hunted by Otto and Erich, now members of the Hitler Youth.