Sam Peckinpah directs this war drama following the story of a doomed German platoon facing annihilation at the hands of the Russians in 1943. German soldier Steiner (James Coburn) resents the arrival of arrogant Prussian Stransky (Maximilian Schell) as his new commanding officer. Stransky is desperate to win an Iron Cross - a medal Steiner has already earned, but considers worthless - and so promotes the highly-recommended Steiner to sergeant. During a siege, Stransky hides in his bunker, terrified of battle, only to later file a report claiming that he himself led a victorious counter-attack. However, when Steiner disputes this, Stransky takes measures to remove him.