In Nazi Germany during World War II, many Jews tried to save themselves by fleeing to neutral Switzerland. What many of them did not know is that Switzerland did not allow refugees to enter "on race grounds alone". This is the story of one group that, nevertheless, tried to escape into Switzerland. They are: Judith, whose husband is in a Swiss refugee camp, her brother Olaf, the grey-haired Ostrowski and his granddaughter, a French orphan, and a German deserter. They enter Switzerland and are found in a vegetable garden by the homeowner, Anna. Franz, her husband, frightened with this situation, notifies the police. Before the police come, they all try and pass themselves off as one family, with the German deserter playing the part of Judith's husband. The role playing does not work and nobody in the village has the courage to stop the policemen from expelling the refugees. Anna pleads with Franz to help save these people. He does manage to rescue them at the border but, unfortunately, they are all caught. Judith thinks she got a glimpse of her husband right before they are all handed over to the Germans across the border.