District Inspector Pokorny was transferred some time ago from Vienna to the fictional Upper Austrian town of Mühlstadt after assaulting a suspect while on duty. There, as he says, he has to deal with "idiotic scoundrels who steal each other's chickens." Police officer Janisch was given a quick trial and sentenced to seven years in prison for robbing the post office in Litzelsdorf. His colleagues do not believe he is capable of such a crime and try to catch the real perpetrators. At the same time, they have to deal with a multitude of other cases.

Munich postal inspector Anton Sittinger lives an unexcited life in the lower middle class with his well-behaved wife Alwine. Anton reads philosophical books, is a born opportunist and adapts to the respective system as much as possible. The couple experience the turmoil of the revolution and the Hitler putsch. When his wife Alwine becomes involved with the Nazis, the conformist Anton finds himself in conflict.