Elisabeth and her son Horst, an uhlan, run an estate in Eastern Prussia together with farngirl Herta. Herta and Horst have fallen in love with each other when the breaks out. At the beginning everybody is full of confidence in the German army. Then Horst is drafted and his mother and Herta remain on the farm alone. The Russian amry advances. A comrade brings home Horst who was severely wounded in battle. At the same time Russian General Samsonov reaches the estate and confiscates it. Elisabeth hides her son, later she pretends he is her daughter. But eventually she learns to trust Samsonow and asks him to get a doctor.
When the doctor, an officer faithful to Samsonow and son of a German mother, discovers the swindle, Elisabeth panics and throws herself in between. As they scuffle, a shot rings out.
Generously the Russian officer promises not to tell anybody as long as Horst does not leave the estate. At the fronts the tide has turned, and now the Russians retreat.
The frinedly officer is brought to Elisabeth wounded. As she leans over him, he whispers "You - German woman!", and dies. Grateful for what he has done for son, Elisabeth promises to take care of his grave. One day she also discovers Samsonow, dressed as a poor refugee among the people on the street. Some days later the men find his dead body. Full of shame because the Russian defeat he committed suicide. A cross is put up for him, carrying a sign: "Here rests in peace an unknown Russian soldier".