A Fugitive Soldier Poses as an Officer—The Army Hails Him a Hero Until the Shocking End

TLDR;

The movie tells the story of Willie, a simple German soldier who escapes the battlefield near the end of World War II. To survive, he impersonates a captain, leading to a series of increasingly brutal acts. Ultimately, he is arrested, escapes punishment for his war crimes, but is later executed for stealing bread.

• Willie escapes the German army and finds a captain's uniform.
• He assumes the identity of a captain, gathering followers and committing atrocities.
• Despite his crimes, he avoids punishment but is later executed for theft.

Willie's Escape and Discovery of the Uniform [0:00]

As World War II nears its end, German soldier Willie deserts the army, fearing Hitler's orders to kill deserters. He narrowly avoids capture by Captain Junker and his men. Seeking refuge, Willie finds an abandoned house. He encounters another deserter, and together they plan to steal food. They discover a hanged soldier, a warning against desertion and theft. Despite the risk, hunger drives them to a nearby farm, where their attempt to steal food leads to the other soldier's death and Willie's narrow escape. Exhausted and freezing, Willie stumbles upon an abandoned army car containing a German officer's uniform, food, and supplies.

Assuming the Captain's Identity [3:53]

Willie puts on the officer's uniform to keep warm and eats the food he found. He begins to act like a real officer, practicing his demeanor and commands. Another soldier, Walter, approaches him, saluting and requesting to join his battalion, as per military law. Willie considers killing Walter but is surprised when Walter fixes the car and offers to be his driver. Willie decides to use Walter to solidify his false identity. He questions Walter about his papers and battalion, maintaining the facade of a real officer. He shares an apple with Walter, further convincing him of his authority.

The Restaurant and the First Act of Violence [5:51]

Willie and Walter stop at a restaurant where the locals are wary of Willie's uniform, reflecting their disillusionment with the German regime. Willie confidently reassures them, promising compensation for their losses and claiming to be there to register their names. He does this to avoid suspicion and get food. The chef, noticing their hunger, becomes suspicious. Willie carefully eats to maintain his charade. Later, at the hotel, Willie is forced to act when the hotel owner catches a man stealing food. To maintain his cover, Willie shoots the man in front of everyone, solidifying his image as a strict officer.

Gathering Followers and Encounter with Captain Aeler [8:10]

The next morning, Willie and Walter enter a house, ostensibly to check on their work, but really to get breakfast. They find German soldiers bullying the residents. Willie asserts his authority, demanding to see their papers. One soldier notices inconsistencies in Willie's uniform and questions him. Willie cleverly deflects suspicion and recruits the soldiers, claiming they are needed for a special mission. Later, while resting in a forest, two more soldiers with an anti-aircraft cannon surrender and join Willie's unit. When the car runs out of gas, Willie orders his men to pull it and the cannon.

Confrontation and Joining the Battalion Unit [10:11]

One of Willie's soldiers, James, becomes suspicious and threatens him, but Captain Aeler and his men interrupt. Aeler demands to see everyone's papers. Willie, lacking proper documentation, claims to be on a secret mission assigned by Hitler himself. He cleverly presents a forged paper and challenges Aeler to show his papers, confusing him. Aeler believes Willie and warns him about thieves in army uniforms. Willie offers to join Aeler's battalion to find the traitors. Willie and his men join the battalion unit, and Aeler takes them to a prisoner camp.

The Prisoner Camp and the Massacre [12:03]

At the camp, Commander Carl believes Willie is there on a special mission from Hitler. Carl tells Willie about the problem of prisoners escaping and committing crimes. Willie offers to inspect the prisoners. Carl takes Willie to meet the prisoners. Carl tells the director that they decided to kill all prisoners. The director is shocked because prisoners still had ongoing cases against them. The director discovers that graves are being dug for the prisoners and confronts Willie, who claims to be acting under Hitler's orders. The director calls a senior officer to verify Willie's claims. Carl, worried, convinces Willie that he will talk to the Minister of Justice officer about the prisoners.

The Green Light and the Ominous Night [15:58]

Willie speaks to the Minister of Justice officer himself, convincing him of the need to take control of the camp. Carl is happy and feels that he finally had a green light to do what he wanted. Carl organizes the prisoners and leads them to a trench. The soldiers open fire with a machine gun, killing many prisoners. Willie is forced to participate to avoid suspicion. Walter is horrified by the massacre. Willie orders Walter to kill a surviving prisoner.

Suspicion and the Camp's Chaos [18:18]

The camp director, suspicious of the events, contacts the Ministry of Justice. The remaining prisoners are forced to bury the corpses. Willie watches, his smile fading as he realizes the extent of his actions. The camp turns into a drunken party, masking the horrors of the previous night. A fight breaks out among the soldiers. Willie sees soldiers torturing prisoners. He unties them, gives them false hope, and then orders them to run before killing them.

Bombing and the City Chaos [20:33]

The English army bombs the camp. Willie and some soldiers escape to the city. Willie declares himself the new captain and imposes strict rules. His men loot houses, creating chaos. Willie feels like a king ruling with terror. He sits in a hotel, drinking and reveling in his power. He becomes enraged when James dances with a woman he desires and orders James to be tortured and killed.

The Downfall and the End [21:56]

Willie's power becomes an obsession, and he loses sight of his true identity. The military police raid his place and arrest him. The court sentences him to execution for killing innocents. Willie's lawyer argues that he acted as a real leader during a time of chaos and requests that he be appointed as a real captain. The judge acquits him and decides to appoint him as an officer. Willie escapes again, leaving everything behind. He is later arrested for stealing a loaf of bread and executed.