This 1985 made-for-TV film tells the story of brothers, Helmut (Bill Nighy) and Karl Hoffmann (John Shea). Both come of age at the start of Hitler's power in Germany in 1931. Helmut, the brilliant but opportunistic student, joins the SS and eventually becomes a successful flag rank officer. Karl, an idealistic athlete, joins the SA and experiences the darker side of Nazism. When the SA is disbanded, he is thrown into prison and later conscripted into the German army. Brother is pitted against brother until their relationship, and the Third Reich, stands in ruins