Winter 1941 The German soldier Fritz Schmenkel, disappointed in the war, crosses the front line in the forests of the Smolensk region. Here he meets a partisan detachment. Partisans are skeptical at first, do not trust him. Soon, the attitude towards Shmenkel changes dramatically - he participates in dangerous operations, goes behind the front line as a scout. Partisans call him "Vanya." Fritz Shmenkel awarded the Order of the Red Banner. In 1943, Fritz fell into the hands of the Nazis, he was executed. Posthumously awarded the title "Hero of the Soviet Union".