The story begins by tracing the lives of three soldiers during World War II—Christian Diestl, Noah Ackerman, and Michael Whiteacre. Christian is a young German officer who becomes increasingly disillusioned with the Nazi regime as the war progresses. Initially idealistic and believing in his country's cause, he soon realizes the horrors of the war, which sends him into a spiral of moral questioning and internal conflict. Meanwhile, Noah, a sensitive and intellectual Jewish-American soldier, faces intense anti-Semitism from his comrades but continues to fight for his country's ideals despite the personal cost. Michael, a popular Broadway star, reluctantly leaves his comfortable life to serve, embodying the reluctant hero who must face his fears and confront the realities of war.

As the war escalates, their experiences on both sides of the conflict intertwine thematically but remain separate geographically. Christian's journey highlights the moral complexities and human costs of following orders without question. Noah's struggle deals with personal courage and resilience in the face of hatred and prejudice. Michael, initially cynical and self-preserving, undergoes a transformation through his experiences on the front lines that challenges his previously shallow existence. Each character's path underscores the broader impacts of war—both in terms of personal identity and ethical behavior—within an overarching narrative that intricately weaves their stories together up to a pivotal point in wartime Europe.