Russian army

May 1945. War-torn East Prussia. The Soviet Army is no longer fighting—it's awaiting the order to demobilize, slowly moving eastward across foreign soil, toward home.

A convoy of trucks and carts has stalled in the middle of a scorched forest. The cause is simple: the axle on an old Studebaker has collapsed. While the drivers curse under the hood, the company commander, Captain Alexander Sverlov, is inspecting the area. He's stern, shaved blue, and demands perfect order even in an open field. For him, the war isn't over until the last soldier crosses the border.

Life is in full swing around the camp

Dima and Sashka, two full-time jokers, try to lift the spirits of the local residents (frightened old Germans) with jokes, but it turns out clumsy.

David and Seryozha sit silently to the side, cleaning their weapons. They've lost their families, and for them, every German is a reminder of their pain. Sverlov keeps them under special surveillance to prevent their hatred from turning into lynching.

Gleb, the deputy platoon commander, growls at the young soldiers, forcing them to dig latrines strictly according to regulations.

The rest - Kolya, Vanya, Anton (the calm ones) and Roma, Slava, Snezhok (the kind ones) - share their rationed sugar with the local children, causing quiet bewilderment among their fellow soldiers.