The adaptation of the eponymous play by Carl Zuckmayer tells the story of renegade general Harras of the German Luftwaffe, who during WWII openly criticizes the Nazi regime. As a consequence, he is put under surveillance, and even imprisoned for a brief period of time. Still remaining outspoken, Harras realizes the horrific dimensions of this hopeless and injust war waged by Germany.
The cozy harbor pub "Störtebeker" is run by the ship's cook Karl Brammer together with his wife Mary. One day Karl is caught in a small smuggling operation and is sent to prison for three months. Mary prefers to conceal the truth and tells him that her husband is back at sea. But then fate strikes: the supposed ship goes down with man and mouse and everyone who believes they can inherit something from Karl storms Mary's house. With so much "sympathy" from the grieving relatives, the man believed to be dead has to put things in order himself.
With his human nature and good-natured character, Police Master Johannes Wilke has everything under control. For this reason, he can afford to enjoy a glass of schnapps and play chess on the phone while on duty. Both his colleague Benthin and Pastor Petersen are not at all happy with such an approach to the job. But when a floater, a naked bather and a thieving tipple brother turn up, Wilke puts his beloved chessboard to one side...
