At the height of the winter operatoins of 1943-44 a group of wounded partisans is sheltered in a mountain village. Before the women of the village have had the time to provide them with food and clothing the Germans arrive. Escorted by the few remaining men of the village (the others have long fled to the mountains) the partisans retreat hastily, while the wmoen and the old people keep the enemy at bay until a the raging snow storm blots out all the traces of those who escaped. Now the villagers have to get back in contact with the wounded partisans hidden in the forrest.