Willi and Maria Kluge married in the final days of World War II. Maria is deported to a camp in Siberia and does not return home until eight years later. She brings with her the child of a fellow prisoner, whom she gave birth to in the camp. This is a heavy blow for her husband Willi, who has been waiting longingly for her, but he takes her and the child in. She struggles to regain his love and trust, and eventually his masculine generosity prevails.