In May 1945, the small town of Weißenthal was no man's land, neither the Americans nor the Soviets occupied it. The soldier Michael Duda, returning to his hometown, meets the escaped concentration camp prisoner Arno Laube. After their arrival, Laube and some Nazi opponents immediately set about establishing a democratic order in Weißenthal, and he made 19-year-old Michael mayor. Not an easy task for the inexperienced. Refugees have to be quartered, there is no milk for the children, the energy supply has collapsed. Scattered remnants of the fascist Wehrmacht are still in the woods. Michael falls into their hands and is about to be hanged, but Laube frees him. On Michael's wedding day, Laube is murdered by werewolves. Michael is determined to continue his friend's fight.