Spring 1943: German troops retreat on the entire eastern front. After soldier Ernst Graeber who already had his doubts for quiet a while has witnessed the arbitrary shooting of innocent Russian civilians he completely loses his faith in the sense of the war. While on leave in his hometown he learns that the father of a friend has been sent to a concentration camp. Frustrated he is looking for an answer to the question: "When does something become murder which is otherwise called heroism?". Back at the front he is shot by partisans whom he had released himself.