A tailor drives his three sons out of the house because he believes they have maliciously starved his beloved goat. The sons prove themselves abroad and return home with special gifts. Two of the brothers are cheated out of their wages on the way. The youngest brother exposes and punishes the thief, and everyone can enjoy the miraculous gifts.

The soldier Martin has been relocated to a small border village in Thuringia. During a storm, he comes to the rescue of Renate, a farmer′s daughter. The two young people fall in love, thereby upsetting Renate′s father who has already promised his daughter to the son of the big farmer Grabow. Henceforth, he does his utmost to tear Martin and Renate apart. Meanwhile, Grabow prepares to flee the GDR with the help of the lance-corporal Zimmer who is indebted to him.