September 1942. The few survivors of a storm pioneer battalion deployed in North Africa are reassigned to the Eastern Front. In the decisive battle for Stalingrad, which claims over 2 million victims, all inhibitions fall away: trench warfare, close combat for every single house, hunger and cold, madness as the last refuge from death. Young Lieutenant Hans von Wetzland must realize that under these circumstances, he cannot even uphold the most basic moral standards for himself and his men. The basis for this book was extensive research, which included numerous conversations with eyewitnesses. This is a novel, not a non-fiction book. Wherever the two claims conflicted, the author chose the former to delve into the inner lives of the characters - down to their deepest abysses.