In August 1942, German soldiers enjoy leave in Cervo, Liguria, Kingdom of Italy after fighting in North African Campaign, where Unteroffizier Manfred "Rollo" Rohleder and Obergefreiter Fritz Reiser are both introduced to Leutnant Hans von Witzland, their new platoon commander. Their unit is promptly sent to the Eastern Front (World War II) to participate in the Battle of Stalingrad.