The Dawns Here Are Quiet

An opening scene shows a young woman removing her helmet while camping with friends, establishing a peaceful pre-war mood. The moment hints at personal lives that will be touched by the war later in the story. It contrasts with the forthcoming intensity of the Eastern Front.

Summer 1942, Company Sergeant Major Vaskov is unexpectedly assigned to command a group of young female anti-aircraft gunners stationed at a railway station far from the front. He clashes with them over daily routines as he adjusts to leading women. The assignment sets the stage for the evolving dynamics within the unit.

During an air raid, junior sergeant Rita Osyanina shoots down an enemy aircraft and is decorated for her deeds. The act establishes Rita as a capable and brave soldier who commands attention from the others. It foreshadows her central role in the forthcoming mission.

Color flashbacks reveal the backstories of the women, adding depth to their motivations and relationships. Rita is shown sneaking food to her mother and infant near the front, highlighting personal sacrifices behind her heroism. The sequences help explain why the soldiers fight and support one another.

Rita secretly carries rations to her family at night, showing her willingness to risk herself for loved ones. On her way back, she encounters two German paratroopers, triggering a dangerous mission. Vaskov then selects five volunteers—Rita, Zhenya, Lisa, Galya, and Sonia—to pursue the Germans.

The volunteers set out to cross treacherous marshland toward the expected German route and move slowly and cautiously. The treacherous terrain slows their progress, and Galya loses a boot, threatening the mission. The group continues, determined to reach the ambush point.

At the anticipated pass, they discover sixteen German paratroopers instead of two. They attempt to bluff the enemy by simulating civilian presence with cut trees and fires to force a detour. Zhenya's audacious jump into the river helps persuade the paratroopers to divert into the forest.

Lisa is sent back to base for reinforcements while the remaining group shifts to guerrilla warfare in the forest. The women adapt to fighting tactics under pressure, using the terrain to their advantage. Tension builds as the odds grow against them.

During the fight, Sonia is killed by a knife-wielding attacker and Galya dies instantly from her wounds. The losses underscore the high cost of the mission and the brazen courage of the remaining women. The group becomes smaller and more vulnerable.

To draw the Germans away, Vaskov leads them with gunfire through the forest. He is shot in the arm but manages to escape, realizing their reinforcement support has not arrived. He continues fighting and evades capture.

Rita is wounded and asks Vaskov to retreat while promising to take care of her son. Zhenya disobeys orders to cover them and lures the Germans away, sacrificing herself in the process. Their deaths seal the sacrifice that fuels Vaskov’s later actions.

Vaskov fights with limited weapons, stabbing a soldier and shooting another, then bluffing with a grenade to force the remaining Germans to surrender. Using a knife, a single shot, and a grenade without a fuse, he secures a submachine gun and neutralizes the rest. A Soviet radio message then calms him and signals success.

The surviving regiment members arrive to rescue the remaining group and find Vaskov exhausted but alive. They help pull the group back toward Soviet lines as the immediate danger subsides. The mission ends in a precarious but successful withdrawal.

Thirty years after the war, Vaskov revisits the battle area with an officer, suggesting Rita’s son grows up bearing the family memory. The scene frames memory as a living link between generations. The landscape stands as a quiet reminder of the sacrifices made.

The girl from the opening scene arrives with a bouquet from her boyfriend, bringing a personal touch to the memorial. She places the flowers at a site honoring the five fallen female soldiers and pays respects with Vaskov and the officer. The film closes on a note of remembrance and continuity.