This is the story of a simple German lieutenant named Karl Krafft. He is one of many officers, at first glance almost an average German person. And it's a study of men who learned war as their craft. February 1944. Lieutenant Krafft, who by chance survived Stalingrad, has been transferred to War School 5 in Bavaria as a specialist in infantry tactics. Here he is immediately caught in the conflict-prone area of ​​tension between the outdated German soldier tradition and the vicious daily practice of the National Socialist system. At the war school, where the 16th war officer training course will be held until the end of March, officers with front-line experience and stage pigs face each other to train ensigns to become officers and the last bit of war fodder.

After Oberleutnant Krafft has been appointed by General Modersohn to succeed the injured Lieutenant Barkow as a supervisory officer, his course commander, Major Frey, invites him, together with his tactics instructor, Captain Feders, and his inspection chief, Captain Ratshelm, to a so-called "little socializing" with his wife .

After General Modersohn once again put pressure on Krafft to clarify the Barkow case, Krafft begins to watch and test the ensigns extensively. When the dead man's mother comes to visit, Redwitz advises him to look for the murderer in the first rows. With this and with a very conspicuously written essay, Hochbauer comes more and more into the circle of the suspect.

Krafft uses a visit from the newly engaged couple to Hauptmann Feather's apartment instead of opening Elfriede to Kater and making it clear to him that Elfriede should be left alone. In the meantime, Ensign Hochbauer has become the favorite of Major Frey's wife, who has not remained hidden from Ensigns Redwitz, Weber and Mösler. As proof, they get the lady's handkerchief from his possession. Frequent visits to Hauptmann Ratshelm are also registered. The ensigns persuade Hochbauer, whom they do not trust a relationship with a woman, to prove this to a Maria Kelter. When the two of them meet, it is interpreted as an administration. Krafft, who had previously received a personal confession from Hochbauer during a re-enactment of the crime, but cannot use this as evidence,