The film depicts the fate of two friends - Alexey Trofimov and Ivan Varavva - traced for many years. In the 20s, they serve together on the frontier, where they fight with the robber bands. There they are, while still very young, remembered for a lifetime mandate to his commander: There is such a profession — to defend the homeland. After Spanish Civil War, the Great Patriotic War, and peaceful days. Old friends meet again, have become generals.