1943: a squad of seasoned German soldiers, led by a disillusioned but skilled sergeant Steiner patrols the advancing Russian front in World War II. They return to base to find a new commander, Captain Stransky. Soon the two men come to hate each other as Steiner knows that the war is already lost and Stransky, a traditional Prussian officer, expects only one thing from his command - an Iron Cross to maintain his family honour.
Eventually Stransky sends Steiner's platoon on a hopeless mission against the Russians.