Just before the invasion of Poland in the autumn of 1939, Bodo and Elfriede get married. However, happiness comes only in installments. As a medical officer, Bodo is deployed with the army to the war fronts in Poland, France, and Russia. It is only one day before Russian tanks roll in that Elfriede can leave her home in Deutsch-Eylau. The escape lasts almost a year; it is not until Christmas 1945 that the family is reunited in Geesthacht on the Elbe. While Elfriede fights for the well-being of her family, Bodo struggles to cope with the downfall of Germany and all his dreams.