It is five o`clock in the morning when customs officer Tschumi surprises German refugee Kramer, who tried to cross the border by swimming through the river Rhine. He has no papers on him, is wanted by the Gestapo und asks political asylum. Since he has no proves for his story and risks to be sent back to Germany, Tschumi lets him escape. - The radio announces Hitler has attacked the Benelux states. The Suiss Army mobilizes, the country is under shock, people storm the trains. Kramer has made to Zürich where he runs into Anna, a childhood friend. She is a tailor and shares her apartment with Widmer, her widowed brother-in-law and his little son. Anna advices Kramer to ask the influencial Hefti family for help where he used to spent his holidays. Like many affluent Zurich citizens the Heftis have fled to the countryside. Anna hides Kramer in her studio, but in the evening invites him to her apartment. Widmer hates the idea to have a German refugee under his roof but hesitates to call the police before the German troops have arrived. Kramer spents a sleepless night in the attic. People are preparing themselves for the German invasion. The old Jewish couple Herz fears for the worst. But the next morning life is back to normal. Anna accompanies Kramer to the police where officer Grimm takes over his case.