"Two main protagonists dominate this epic film. Chairman Mauch, who had supported Hitler, finds new fame and fortune in West Germany after the war. The bourgeois chemist Dr. Hans Scholz lives through a tortuous political transformation and maturing process. Finally, he becomes wrapped up in his political neutralit…

1939年8月31日，格莱维茨事件爆发。当日，一支身穿波兰军装的德国党卫军冒充波军，袭击了德国边境的格莱维茨电台，并发表对德国的侮辱性讲话。随后，全德各电台都广播了“德国遭到了波兰突然袭击”的消息，希特勒以此为借口，签署入侵波兰的第一号作战命令，并于次日发动了对波兰的入侵。