At the beginning of the First World War Mertens now a clerk the electricity company and former petty officer receives his draft papers. He and his bride Grete decide to have an emergency wedding, which is interrupted by Petzold a drunken sailor of the cruiser "Emden". He claims to have recognized Grete and that she was once his bride back in Germany. Due to the war preparation their conflict can not be solved and Mertens and Petzold end up serving on board of the same ship, the cruiser "Emden". After several sucessful raids the "Emden" is cornered by British ships. During this final battle Mertens Petzold fight side by side. Mertens loses one arm and is hit by a bullet. About to die he becomes reconciled with Petzold who has to promise Mertens to take care of Grete. Then Petzold is also hit. The Battle continues, the destruction of the "Emden" is unavoidable. Captain von Müller realizes the hopelessness of his situation and decides to set his hip on ground in order to save it from surrender or sinking. To save the lives of his crew the captain descides to take down and burn the flag. The British sailors take the Germans prisoner and take them on board their ship where they are greeted with all military honours. Together the German ans British sailors stare at the burning wreck.