During World War II, Lieutenant Thomas Hart, a young and inexperienced officer, is captured by the German forces. After enduring a harsh interrogation, he is sent to a POW camp deep within Germany's borders. There, Hart is thrust into a world governed by its own rules and hierarchy where Allied prisoners, primarily officers, are held. The camp is overseen by the strict but honorable Colonel Wilhelm Visser, a Luftwaffe officer who respects the Geneva Conventions. Hart, struggling to adapt to the harshness of camp life, is drawn into the complex social dynamics among the prisoners, who are divided by rank, experience, and allegiance.

When two African-American pilots are brought into the camp, tensions rise among the inmates, leading to a murder accusation. Hart, having had some legal training before the war, is unexpectedly tasked with the defense in the ensuing court-martial, a process manipulated by both the prisoners and their captors to serve hidden agendas. This situation forces Hart to navigate a treacherous path between upholding the principles of justice and surviving the realities of war. His efforts to seek the truth expose him to the brutalities of conflict and the essence of human integrity, challenging him to redefine his understanding of leadership and honor in the face of adversity.