Martin Schulz (Paul Lukas), a German-American art dealer, returns to Germany at the outbreak of World War II. He adopts the Nazi propaganda philosophy and refuses to protect his Jewish fiancee, Griselle Eisenstein (K.T. Stevens), who has stayed in America to run the family business. Heinrich Schulz (Peter Van Eyck) is forced to flee with his pregnant wife, Martha (Susan Strasser), and their daughter, Greta (Audrey Hepburn). They are captured by the Nazis and sent to a concentration camp.
In the camp, Martin and Heinrich are separated from each other. Martin becomes an SS officer and is responsible for the daily lives of the prisoners. He is also tasked with protecting the women and children from the brutalities of the camp. Despite his efforts, he is forced to abandon his Jewish fiancee and her unborn child.
Griselle is imprisoned in the same camp as her husband and daughter. She is forced to work in the camp's laundry room, but she is able to sneak out to visit her father. When she learns that her father has abandoned her, she is devastated. She is eventually released from the camp, but she is forced to flee to Switzerland with her daughter, hoping to find her father and reunite with him.
Meanwhile, Martin is working tirelessly to save the lives of the other prisoners. He is determined to bring them all home alive, despite the dangers and challenges he faces. His determination and bravery inspire the other prisoners to fight back against the Nazis and their brutal tactics.
As the war draws to a close, Martin and Heinrich are finally reunited. They have survived the horrors of the camps and emerged victorious. However, they are faced with the difficult decision of whether to return to Germany or stay in America. They ultimately choose to stay in America, where they can continue to support their families and build a new life for themselves.
