Afterseveralmonthsoffiercefighting,theRedArmyfinallyknockstheenemyoutofthevillageofOvsyannikovo,whichcostshugelosses-onlyathirdofthepersonnelremainfromthecompany.Exhaustedtothelimit,thesoldiersarewaitingforreinforcements,butanordercomesfromtheheadquarters-tokeepthevillageatallcosts,andthisistantamounttoadeathsentence.Thecompanycommanderfacesadifficultchoice-eithertolosetheremnantsofthecompany,followingameaninglesscommandorder,ortowithdrawhispeoplefrommortarfire,butatthesametimeleavetheirpositionsandgotothetribunalforviolatingtheorder.Inextremelyrealisticdetails,onlyonefiercebattleisshown,inwhich,likeinadropofwater,thewholetruthaboutthewarisreflected.