In the midst of Hitler's rise to power during the early 1930s, a wealthy German industrialist family, the von Essenbecks, grapples with moral decay and political intrigue. The family patriarch, Baron Joachim von Essenbeck, head of the family's steel company, finds himself in a precarious position due to growing ties with the Nazi party. A birthday celebration is disrupted by the news of the Reichstag fire and Hitler's plans for Germany. Tensions escalate within the family as they each vie for control of the company, leading to betrayal, power struggles, and alignment with the emerging political landscape.

Amidst this backdrop, Friedrich Bruckmann, an ambitious manager within the company, forms a strategic alliance with Martin von Essenbeck, the young and depraved heir. Elisabeth Thallman, whose husband is targeted by the Nazis, struggles with moral dilemmas, while Sophie von Essenbeck seeks influence and security through manipulation. Their once-powerful facade unravels as alliances are tested and ruthless ambition takes hold. This dark descent into corruption and destruction offers a stark reflection of the moral compromises and the devastating impact of political alignment during a time of immense change in Germany. As the family's entanglements deepen with the Nazi regime, they face consequences far beyond their imagining, setting the stage for a tragic unfolding of events.