Berlin, 1933: Adolf Hitler is now Chancellor. As a newly-minted Nazi member is practicing his speech, he receives a visit from Johann Shmidt, reminding him to money owed to gangster Emilie Beckert; he refuses, being part of the powerful Nazi party so Shmidt stabs him. Shmidt walks past a fight between Nazis and Communists and recognizes one of the Reds as his old friend Dieter. He joins the fight and he and Dieter get away. At home, Dieter tells Johann that he had always admired him for standing up to the Nazis and describes how he became a Communist. But Beckert warns Johann that his Communist friend may cause trouble with the Nazis which would be a threat to the gang. Beckert tells Shmidt that if he can’t control Dieter, he will have to kill him. Shmidt bullies Dieter into doing something “real” and takes him out at night to murder Beckert. Dieter is unable to act and Shmidt punches him with contempt. Then they discover that the Reichstag is on fire….

In the aftermath, Dutch leftist Marinus van der Lubbe is arrested and claims to have acted alone but Hitler uses it as a pretext for suspending civil liberties and cracking down on the Communists. Shmidt and Dieter run from the Nazis but Dieter is caught and beaten while Shmidt gets away. The Nazis grow in power with millions joining the Party, including Johann Shmidt….