Es Kommt ein Tag plot
The year is written in 1870. German soldiers occupy the French city of St. Godard. Corporal Friedrich Mombour comes into battle with a French lieutenant and shoots him. The city is conquered and he discovers a family that bears his name. He is welcomed as a friend. In time, he falls in love with the daughter of the house, Madeleine. The young French lieutenant he killed turns out to be her brother. At some point, Friedrich has to admit that it was he who shot him. Her dying mother must know nothing of the death of her son Gaston. She is still waiting for his return. To reassure her, the German corporal dons the uniform of the opponent he killed and meets the sick old woman who is thus freed from her fears and dies peacefully. However, this is fatal to Friedrich. A counter-attack from the French drives him out into the street. In the French uniform, he is then shot by his own soldiers.