On 8 May 1945, the day of Germany's surrender at the end of World War II, exiled communist Erich Braun returns to his native city of Dresden along with the Red Army, only three months after it was devastated in aerial bombardment. He aids a group of Soviet soldiers to recover the Old Masters Picture Gallery from the ruins of the Zwinger Palace. During the next five days, while searching for the collection, he encounters several of the city's residents who have also returned from the war. Although they distrust the Soviets at first, they eventually assist them recover the pictures.