The new idealistic welfare officer Helmi tries to improve conditions in "Sin Alley," but difficulties arise, particularly with the leader of the petty criminals, Jukka, whose son Reino also drifts into a life of crime.
It is the year 1915, and five Finnish men ski to Sweden via the Gulf of Bothnia to get military training in Germany. Among the men are Martti and Kalpa from the 27th Army Ranger Battalion. In the reserve, the troops spend their free time in a café called the Golden Anchor, owned by Sonja Strand. Sonja's captain serves in the Russian army, and Sonja has a relationship with Baron von Lichtenstein, who exploits Sonja who spies on Russia using Jew Isaac as her messenger.
Poor high school students Toivo Päiviö and Unto Uramo solve their housing problems by enrolling in Sofia Andersson's boarding school. Toivo falls in love with Mrs. Andersson's deceased husband's niece, Aune, and begins to compete for her attention with opera singer Reino "Toreadoor" Kiljunen.
