Haie und Kleine Fische plot
Emil Stollenberg and Gerd Heyne work on a herring logger. At the outbreak of the Phoney War, this ship was requisitioned by the German army to be converted into a minesweeper. Already at the first funeral, some of the ships of their squadron are lost. The boys don't like serving on 'that rickety rust bucket' throughout the war. Far too dangerous for their liking, and not honorable at all. The warships of the Kriegsmarine appeal to them much more. So they decide to actually enlist in the navy, but of course they have to undergo training. This training is tough, but the young men also get through this together.