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Oton, a young boy, is growing up while his hometown Ljubljana changes, from 1934, when King Alexander of Yugoslavia is killed in France, through first the Italian and then the German occupations of the city, until the arrival of Communism. Oton learns the difference between men and women; the experience makes him swear eternal love to his friend Marjana. His hopes are dasher, however, when the Italian occupying forces invade Ljubljana in 1941. Oton, at that time in grammar school, hates the Italians and joins the underground resistance movement. Marjana slowly changes and forgets her old friends. She draws away from Oton as she falls madly in love with Giorgio, an Italian officer lodging in the apartment of Oton's parents. With time, the Italian occupying troops become increasingly brutal. The only place where nothing seems to change is the nightclub Purgatory, with prostitute Anita as its brightest star, where both the townspeople and the Italian soldiers come to forget the horrors of the war...

Admiral Lee Sun-shin designs and builds the 'Turtle Ships' in preparation of the Japanese invasion during the Injin War. He is promoted after his victories, but due to his expanding influence and increased popularity in military circles, the king comes to fear him and has him imprisoned. A year later, the Japanese navy attempts another invasion and the king is required to enter the prison and beg the admiral's assistance.

It is August 1, 1914. There is excitement in Master Wiederkehr's hairdressing salon. The local council, the notary, the butcher and other customers discuss the shocking news that Wiederkehr's daughter Rosa has just brought to the house: there is a war. Germany, Belgium and Russia have declared mobilization. The French troops are at the border. The young hairdresser Wipf then experiences his first crucial life experiences during the horrors of war.

In 1941 an Italian regiment known as the Savoy Cavalry is sent by Mussolini to Russia to assist the German invasion. After crossing an extensive area of Soviet territory the men arrive at a village that seems deserted. A patrol sent on reconnaissance comes under machine-gun fire from the top of a bell-tower. During the fighting that follows a young woman named Kalina is captured by the Italians, but in order to win favour with the local people she is spared. A peaceful rapport then builds up between Italian soldiers and Russian villagers, and a special fondness grows between Kalina and Captain Valli, the colonel's godson. Suddenly, the men receive orders to depart and make their way to the front line which is under Russian siege. However, the German commander does not believe the Italian presence will be effective, so on a point of honour the Savoy Cavalry decide to demonstrate their worth. Moving to the front they charge into the enemy batteries and eventually overwhelm them. Sadly, few survive the heroic charge.