Algeria, mid-50s: it is the time of uprisings against the French colonial power. The German-born foreign legionary Hans Röder witnesses inhuman criminal actions against members of the Algerian resistance movement. These go to the account of the French secret organisation "Red Hand", but it cannot use witnesses. Röder deserts and tries to bring his observations to the public. He is relentlessly pursued by the "Red Hand", which leaves a bloody trace. Röder flees to West Germany, but here too the arm of the organisation enough. He sees no other way out than to escape to the GDR.
In 1960, 400,000 farmers are forced to join the LPG. After the forced collectivization, Thomas, son of the experienced LPG chairman Rothardt, is delegated to the Oderbruch. However, he is unable to cope with the unwilling farmers in the countryside and his task of improving their work. He meets with incomprehension from his father and a conflict arises between the two.
