Summer of My German Soldier

Thirteen-year-old Patty Bergen grows up in Jenkinsville, Georgia, during World War II. Her Jewish-American family runs the local clothing and general store, and Patty endures an abusive father and an indifferent mother. Ruth, the family's Black housekeeper, is her only steady friend in a town that feels suspicious of outsiders.

The U.S. government opens a prisoner-of-war camp nearby and German soldiers come into the Bergen store to buy supplies. Patty meets Anton, one of the few prisoners who speaks English. Their brief encounter hints at a fragile bond that crosses enemy lines.

Anton escapes from the camp and is about to board a train, but Patty spots him and foils his plan. Instead of alerting authorities, she inadvertently becomes part of his attempt to avoid capture. The seeds of their unlikely friendship are planted.

Patty hides Anton in abandoned rooms above the Bergens' disused garage and brings him food. Over time, he shows Patty warmth and respect she has never received from her family, and they grow close in their precarious situation.

Anton is almost exposed when Patty's father beats her, and he nobly runs out to protect her. Patty shouts for him to go back to avoid being seen, but Ruth witnesses the moment and suspects the truth.

Ruth sees Anton at the home but does not approve of harboring a Nazi prisoner. She agrees to keep his presence secret and helps by leaving food for him, keeping hope alive while risking her own position.

The FBI conducts a thorough search of Jenkinsville, looking for Anton and the possible saboteurs in the town. Agents visit the Bergens' home as part of their sweep, heightening Patty's fear of discovery.

Patty warns Anton that he must leave immediately or risk capture. He flees the garage, thanking her, and gives her a grandfather's ring as a tangible remembrance of their bond before disappearing into the night.

The pursuing agents catch up with Anton as he tries to escape. In a burst of gunfire, the FBI shoots him dead, and Patty is left devastated by the sudden loss.

The Bergens learn of Anton's death from the FBI. Patty's father disowns her, declaring that she is dead to him, and the townsfolk treat her as a traitor. Ruth has also been fired for helping Patty, leaving her further isolated.

Ruth comforts Patty and publicly asks the townsfolk to leave her alone, insisting that only God has the right to judge. She remains loyal to Patty despite the consequences, offering quiet solidarity in a hostile town.

In the wake of tragedy, Patty mourns Anton and endured isolation, clinging to the memory of his warmth and Ruth's steadfast friendship. She begins to find a way to carry on despite being branded a traitor by the community.