Homecoming

In the Wołyń Voivodeship, the German minority endures escalating oppression. Marie watches as her German school is seized by Polish authorities and demolished by an angry mob. The act foreshadows the violence that will engulf the family and community.

Dr. Thomas formally protests to the mayor, arguing that minority rights are guaranteed by the constitution. His appeal is ignored, underscoring the authorities' refusal to protect the German community. The moment shows the growing power imbalance that fuels further actions.

Marie and her fiancé Fritz drive to the provincial capital to present their case to the Voivode. They are not received by officials there, leaving them frustrated and determined. They decide to stay in the capital to pursue legal avenues the next day.

That evening, they go to the cinema accompanied by Karl Michalek, who has been pressed into service by the Polish Army. The outing offers a chance for normalcy amid mounting tension. The crowd's mood soon turns dangerous.

When the audience refuses to sing the Polish national anthem, a furious crowd assaults Fritz, inflicting serious injuries. Marie and Karl witness the brutality and fear for his life. The incident marks a brutal escalation of ethnic hostility inside the cinema.

Marie tries to have Fritz admitted to a hospital, but admission is refused. He dies from his injuries, and Marie faces the devastating consequence of institutional prejudice. The death deepens the community's grief and anger.

Back home, violence against Germans continues as Marie's father, Dr. Thomas, is attacked and blinded. The assault removes a respected healer and symbol of the community's resilience. The family grapples with personal loss amid the broader chaos.

The innkeeper Ludwig Launhardt's wife, Martha, dies after being struck by stones thrown by Poles. Her death underscores the civilian cost of the escalating ethnic conflict and shocks the village. The tragedy compounds the residents' fear and anger.

At the outbreak of the invasion, German villagers secretly gather in a barn to hear Hitler’s speech on 1 September 1939. They are discovered, arrested, and imprisoned by occupying authorities. The scene dramatizes the rapid shift from oppression to outright militarized control.

Marie consoles the prisoners, promising they will escape and return home where they can hear only German. They endure abuse from prison guards, but hold fast to the hope of freedom and reunion. The promise anchors their courage as the situation grows more dire.

The prisoners escape through an underground cellar, narrowly avoiding a massacre. They are saved by invading Wehrmacht soldiers, whose arrival shifts the odds in their favor. The evacuation marks a turning point from captivity to rescue.

The escapees prepare for resettlement into the Reich homeland, and Ludwig Launhardt asks Marie for her hand. The family and community readies for departure under the looming prospect of exile. The personal offer of marriage adds a note of hope amid upheaval.

The group crosses the border into the Reich, signaling their transfer to the objective homeland. At the checkpoint, a massive image of Hitler dominates the scene, underscoring the propaganda environment of the era. The film closes on this somber, propagandistic note.