Ambitious 19th century high class prostitute Josephine Muntzenbacher tells her salacious life story.

At the end of the war, medical orderly Neumann finds himself in a remote barracks. The squad is lined up and waiting for new adventures. It's a good thing that the medical orderly has his contacts and can lure women into the barracks without attracting attention. And already it is called: All hands to the attack!

Josefine, who got to know the young aristocratic Wanja, experiences a tenderly lovenight. But the young romance ends up in tragedy and Wanja gets hurt deadly. As Josefine is in search of her pimp Poldi, she has an encounter with the rich banker Blumenschein, who puts her up into his house. Blumenschein is so damn thrilled about Josefine, that he let her be painted on canvas. As she gets to know the unexperienced Ferdinand, she can't resist to seduce him. This extra-marital affair has consequences, and so she offers the banker, that he will become a father. Some months later, the banker proudly advertises the birth of his daughter "Josefine".

Josefine Mutzenbacher runs a place named "Artists' Paradise". Dr. Hofbauer, a frequenter of this establishment, stages a surprise spectacle for the patrons, which serves as a pretext for an orgy. Josefine and her girls go to the country for a picnic where they encounter a hunting party of gentlemen. One of them is Herr Kirchner who tells Josefine that his good-for-nothing son Loisl is going to Vienna to learn carpentry. He sends Loisl to Josefine's house. Josefine and Annie give him a detailed lesson. Then, Loisl goes to Meister Wehringer to become his apprentice. Wehringer has an inquisitive sixteen-year-old daughter named Maria. Loisl tells her about his experiences at Josefine's house and attempts to give her a lesson himself. However, Wehringer catches them. He fires Loisl and says that he'll write to his father about his misconduct. In desperation Loisl goes to Josefine.