The film tells the story of the smelter brigade of a steel mill whose members are connected by a strong comradeship Among the workers are for instance young Rolf whom everybody just calls Lachtaube and who always comes through for his coworkers or the likable Hubert who works as a simple smelter again after being dismissed as the head of the steel mill Then there is also the stubborn Manfred who should have become a brigadier long ago because of his experience and his competence but this privilege is refused to him because Manfred is not a party member Ironically it is Manfred who hears by accident about the plans of the mill to close down the old Martin furnaces and to lay off the smelters When the other men learn about the plans they enter the barricades for their jobs and force the plants management to face the workers demands and criticism
