Kathrin and Wolfgang are not exactly blessed with riches, but they love each other more than anything, and that (still) outweighs their financial worries. When Wolfgang fails his architecture exams, Kathrin looks for a job as a secretary to support her family. However, Kathrin has to pretend to her new boss, Director Wilkens, that she is single. Meanwhile, Wolfgang is working as a househusband, with neighbor Uschi gladly supporting him. One day, Kathrin has to accompany her boss on a trip, during which he gives her all kinds of compliments and presents. Meanwhile, Wolfgang is celebrating his second wedding anniversary alone at home when Uschi suddenly appears at the door. A misunderstanding leads to a telephone argument between Kathrin and Wolfgang, which turns into grounds for divorce when she returns home. But then everything turns out quite differently.

Spain 1936: Despite the victory of the Popular Front, nothing has changed for the peasants; the grandees continue to oppress them. The poor peasant son Pablo fights back and encourages the others to demand their rights. The grandees flee. Students from Madrid arrive and help the rural population to democratize. Pablo falls in love with Magdalena and learns to read and write from her. When Franco begins his bloody attack on the young republic, they defend the village together. When Magdalena dies in a bombing raid by German planes, Pablo begins to hate the Germans. However, fighting together with the International Brigades, he realizes that there are other Germans too, and that they share a common enemy.