In 1944, partisans in a German-occupied city plan to attack the Nazi forces in coordination with an Allied air offensive. The air attack is called off without their knowledge, however, and Dr. Stefan Bernardi throws a bomb, killing 30 German officers. Nazi Major Kohler demands 300 male hostages to be shot at 9 o'clock the following morning unless the man who threw the bomb surrenders. Dr. Bernardi is torn between protecting the partisans and saving the hostages. After a haunted night, he visits Major Kohler to receive assurance that the prisoners will be freed if the man responsible gives himself up. Upon receiving further promises, Bernardi decides to confess, but, upon returning home, he is restrained by the partisan leader, who reasons that under torture Bernardi may endanger the lives of thousands. He escapes, however, and while running to confess is shot by another member of the underground. Before he dies, he tells Major Kohler that it was he who committed the act, but the fanatical officer screams the order for execution of the hostages.