Professor Gabriel Tomicki spends the last evening before WW2 breaks out quarreling with his university colleague Professor Dog-Lesniewski about the superiority of German over French culture. He finds German culture fascinating and believes neither in war, nor in Nazi barbarity. When the war begins, he tries to enlist and befriends Florentyna, a nightclub dancer and his neighbour. Gabriel falls in love with her, finally manages to become a soldier and even prove his courage.