Flanders, October 1917. The three friendly soldiers from the front, Gerd, Hein and Ummo, are transferred to the stage near the German-Dutch border together with their lieutenant Dierk Hansen. They move into a house that is only inhabited by the girl Marie. Landwehr man Ummo, a farmer by trade, is already 46 years old and should have been back home long ago, but no substitute has yet arrived for him, as the substitute is scarce due to the high war losses.