A worthy attempt to illustrate the futility of war, and of racism in particular.

Late in World War II, Belgium is occupied by the Germans and bombed by the Allies. SS Sturmbannfüher Karl Wirtmann complains in Brussels to the unimpressed admiral that escapes happen over the North Sea and volunteers to give just-commended Kriegsmarine lieutenant Heinz Von Lehndorff a ride to spend his holiday with his wife. They stop in a coastal town, spotting some Jews who escape a nocturnal raid and are escorted by the resistance. Heinz and his shepherd dog reluctantly assist catching all but one and the guide. All are taken to the luxury home of the local notary, where even the curate attends to the game of entertaining Nazis in the hope to prevent citizen abuse. While the notary's wife overplays her foxy hostess hand with two studly soldiers, her husband leaves disgusted as Karl turns provocatively nasty, questioning a caught Jewess while a businessman tries to bribe him for liberation. Others are in for bad surprises too when the resistance attempts a rescue.—KGF Vissers