Two teenagers are drafted into Hitler's army. One becomes fanatical, while the other realizes war's senselessness. When his friend is executed, the disillusioned soldier turns against his own forces in this anti-war film based on a novel.

Two 17-year-olds, Werner Holt and Gilbert Wolzow, are pulled out of school and into Hitler's army. Gilbert becomes a fanatical soldier, but at the front Werner begins to understand the senselessness of war. When Gilbert is hanged by the SS, Werner turns his gun on his own army. This film, based on Dieter Noll's novel, is a political and artistic masterpiece. Its fresh and surprising frankness about the toll war takes on youth found great public resonance after the film's release.—DEFA Film Library