1942. First lieutenant Wisse, young and still idealistic, is sent to the Eastern front where a renewed German offensive is in full swing. During his trip, he witnesses the hardships entailed by the occupation of Russia, but keeps his faith in the success and ultimate good of the national-socialist endeavour. Upon arriving at his new quarters, he quickly gets informed about the precarious nature of the strategic situation. As a matter of fact, Wisse is unusually well-placed to gain an unvarnished insight into the state of military affairs. His assignment: liaison officer to the Romanian army. His station: in the Russian plain, on the flank guarding the advance of the German sixth army to Stalingrad...