Synopsis:
Using the Spanish Civil War as a backdrop, director Frank Beyer tells the story of five international brigade soldiers, who in the extremely harsh conditions of the Sierra mountains, attempt to carry out the orders of their dying commanding officer. Each of the five soldiers is given an empty cartridge case containing a part of the enemy's secret marching plans. The soldiers are ordered to take these secret plans back to their own troops. The audience, however, knows something which these men only find out at the end of the film - namely, that the torn pieces of paper hidden inside their cartridge cases are not the enemy's secret marching plans, but rather a message directed to them, which reads: "You can only survive if you stay together." It is not the political convictions of the five brigade soldiers which are of importance to this film, but rather their collective situation in a precarious and dangerously borderline predicament. Not only these soldiers, but people in general, contending with the most extreme conditions, must rise to the occasion and prove themselves. Featuring Manfred Krug and Armin Mueller-Stahl, two of the best-known stars of German cinema today.

Press Comments:
"The turn of events in this film has the urgency and trappings of a great tragedy ... In the hands of director Frank Beyer and cameraman Guenter Marczinkowsky, the film script is moulded into a visual style that is both transparent and congenial. The almost stylized and austere realistic method of directing precisely corresponds to a style of bleak photography which consciously dispenses with the shooting of 'beautiful pictures' in order to better capture the quality of human countenance. Joachim Werzlau's extremely frugal and restrained music score also reinforces the film's message." -- Christoph Funke in the Berlin Sonntag, 46/1960

"The audience is witness to a thoroughly successful film. Given the many merits of this film, the critics will find it difficult to come up with a well-balanced judgement. But, after all is said and done, this film deserves a heartfelt good luck wish!" -- Rudi Strahl in the Berlin Filmspiegel, 24/1960

You may also be interested in:
Axe of Wandsbek, The	Gleiwitz Case, The	I Was Nineteen