The seasoned fighter from 1870/71, Walter Bloem, travels to Frankfurt/Oder in June 1914 to participate as a reserve captain in a military exercise. During this time, an assassination attempt in Sarajevo kills the Austro-Hungarian heir to the throne, Franz Ferdinand, and his wife Sophie, which becomes a topic of conversation in the barracks for a few days. Dark clouds of war seem to loom on the horizon. However, emotions quickly settle, and no one seriously believes that a war is imminent. Thus, Walter Bloem bids farewell to his comrades without a care. He has no idea that he will see his comrades again just a few days later in the barracks courtyard!.