A young man named Jürgen joins the military. As much as he tries to make a heroic career as a soldier in a rearmed West Germany, he fails utterly and ends up in a bizarre sanatorium.

A young woman solemnly swears to remain a virgin for ever until it is clearly demonstrated to her that such a view contradicts the course of the world and is thus foolishly advocated.

Hans Engler is a reserved man from Hamburg with no family or partner. When his acquaintance Agnes asks him to assume paternity for her daughter Martina, he cannot refuse her the favor. When Agnes dies a short time later, Hans Engler is drawn into a violent conflict with Martina's biological father, which quickly becomes life-threatening for him.