In 1941, the German army was preparing to invade the Soviet Union. A young German boy, Wilhelm, and his younger brother Friedhelm responded to Hitler's call to enlist in the army and were about to go to the front line.Charlotte, a young woman, determined to serve the country and became a female nurse. She will also go to the battlefield to rescue the wounded.The young woman Greta is beautiful, lively, and has a moving voice. She hopes to become a female singer one day.Her lover is a Jewish Viktor, the son of a tailor.

The five people are best friends. They sang, danced, drank and celebrated on the eve of their departure, and agreed to meet again on Christmas.

Before the separation, they were all high-spirited young people; after the separation, their fate was closely linked to this war.For this generation of Germans, this is the memory of this war from their fathers and mothers.

a different era

Berlin in 1941 was clouded.A blitzkrieg against the Soviet Union is about to break out, and the entire city is shrouded in the shadow of war.However, in this turbulent era, the "little friends", composed of four Germans and one Jew, held a special party in a dark bar.

The Winter brothers, Wilhelm and Friedhelm, sat side by side, their faces gleaming with alcohol.They are about to embark on a journey to the front line of the Soviet Union. Their father has high hopes for them, hoping that they can win glory for the country on the battlefield.However, in the eyes of the brothers, the war that is about to break out is not only glory and sacrifice, but also a test of humanity and conscience.

In the corner of the bar, singing was melodious.That was Greta, her voice as sweet as a nightingale.She met her lover Victor on an ordinary day, and their relationship quietly grew between the singing and the tailor's needlework.However, as Nazi Germany's persecution of the Jews intensified, their love also became endangered.In 1941, the Nazis issued a decree prohibiting intermarriage or even contact between Aryans and Jews, but this did not weaken the deep friendship between Victor and his four Aryan friends.They supported each other and resisted the darkness of that era together.

Charlotte, this ambitious girl, has just passed the nursing qualification.She will also go to the front lines to provide medical assistance to the wounded in field hospitals.She knew that her choice would mean facing endless pain and separation, but she still had no hesitation.

On this night, their gathering was not only a celebration, but also a common prayer for their future destiny.They know that the coming war will change everything, but they also firmly believe that as long as there is love in the heart and persistence in justice, even in the darkness, you can find that glimmer of light.

As the night gets darker, the lights in the bar gradually dim.The five friends hugged each other and said goodbye.They know that this may be the last time they are together, but they also know that this friendship and hope for the future will always light their way forward.

a different war

From the moment Germany launched its attack on the Soviet Union, the shadow of war enveloped the entire European continent.In this cruel war, the fate of countless people was ruthlessly rewritten, including five young people with very different personalities.They originally had different outlooks on life and ideals, but under the impact of the war, their personalities and beliefs have undergone tremendous changes.

The story of the Winter brothers epitomizes the countless tragedies of this war.The elder brother was a decorated soldier whose courage and honor were recognized on the battlefield.But as the war continued, he witnessed the indiscriminate shooting of Jews by the German army, and this cruel reality gradually shattered his faith.After a failed battle, he chose to leave the army and hid in an abandoned farmhouse, living an isolated life.And his younger brother, who was originally a young man who loved literature and opposed the war, became callous under the devastation of the war.Although there is still a trace of sympathy in his heart, his behavior becomes more and more cruel, and he even starts killing people.

Greta's story shows love and sacrifice in war.In order to save her Jewish boyfriend Victor, she did not hesitate to maintain a lover's relationship with a senior SS officer, and even used this relationship to obtain an exit permit for Victor.Although her choice makes her morally controversial, it also reflects her firmness and courage in the face of love.

Charlotte's changes are even more touching.She was a young man full of ideals and enthusiasm, and her loyalty to her country led her to actively participate in various activities in the early days of the war.However, it was this “loyalty” that drove her to report a Jewish woman working in a field hospital.Unexpectedly, the Jew later became a political commissar of the Soviet Red Army and extended a helping hand to Charlotte when Germany was defeated, allowing her to survive and return to Berlin.

a different country

In May 1945, the spring sunshine was warm and soft, but this warmth could not penetrate the haze caused by the war.At that historic moment, Germany announced its unconditional surrender, marking the end of the European battlefield of World War II.For many people, this is a relief and a new beginning, but for Victor, it is an eternal pain in his heart.

Victor was once a regular at that town's most popular bar, a place filled with laughter and the beauty of life.Whenever night falls, the lights of the bar are flashing and the music is melodious. People gather here to share their life and future dreams.However, the coming of war destroyed all these beautiful things in an instant.

In the years after the war broke out, the bar became a temporary gathering place for soldiers and a gathering place for families looking for news about their loved ones.Whenever a soldier entered the bar, there would always be a commotion. People were anxious and looking forward to hearing good news about the front line.However, as time went by, the bad news piled up and the atmosphere in the bar became heavier and heavier.

When Victor stepped into this once familiar land again, all he saw was ruins.The door number of the bar is in dilapidated condition, the windows are full of bullet holes, and the graffiti and photos on the walls have been eroded by time and blurred.He walked into the bar, looked around, and felt an indescribable sadness in his heart.

Just when Victor was immersed in this sadness, he saw brother Winter and Charlotte.Their faces were full of exhaustion and sorrow, but their eyes shone with determination.They told Victor that brother Winter and Greta had died in the war, and that their sacrifices had become one of the countless tragedies of the war.

Victor couldn't suppress his sadness. He felt as if his heart was being torn apart, and the pain almost made him unable to breathe.He thought of the happy times he spent with his brother Winter and Greta, and the days when they talked about their ideals and shared happiness in the bar.Now, all this is in the past and can never come back.