Marshall Sunder, bombardier of a WWII B-26 bomber, destroys the bridge at Bad Scheidel, in Nazi Germany. Assigned to the Army of Occupation at wars end, Marshall, and Kristine, a widowed German maid, fall in love The bridges destruction resulted in the death of Kristine's daughter and mother. Discovering that Marshall was the bombardier, she is shocked and unforgiving. Personal tragedies devastate the young flier: the death of one crew member, and the revengeful castration of another occur. Too, he believes that Kristine has been killed when her home is vandalized. Marshall is transferred home, and discharged. Enroute, he meets a war widow, Eileen, in San Francisco, and they commiserate, and enjoy near-erotic sex.

At home, he is disenchanted with the family business. Knowing he has violated the Commandment, Thou Shalt Not Kill, he mourns the death of Kristine's child and mother. Visited by his co-pilot, Gary, he learns that Kristine wasn't killed, and is pregnant. Sure that he is the father, Marshall returns to active duty and goes to Germany, intending to marry Kristine, and discovers that her husband, thought killed, has returned.