1941. As German soldiers penetrate into USSR, the fate of a Russian-born German baby buried alive in a bombing raid unravels behind a curtain of innocence. As the tide of the fierce conflict shifts, an exodus takes him westward toward Germany, where he becomes separated from his mother, leading him to return parentless to Russia where he's forced to suffer the consequences of a German invasion that he knew nothing of, yet he is nonetheless held accountable for. Starving and homeless, with only an ailing grandma by his side, little Hans faces a treacherous journey for survival that takes him into direct confrontation with hungry wolves, starving and anger-ridden locals, freezing conditions, the KGB, and murderous Russian gangs. Despite being shot and poisoned, Hans's destiny continues. As a man, Hans comes into contact with distant relatives who help him answer the enduring question regarding the mysterious disappearance of his mother.