Richardson (Van Johnson), son of a Nazi general and fanatical Nazi himself, leads a squad of German commandos, specially trained and dressed in American uniforms, behind the American lines for the purpose of sabotage and murder during the Battle of the Bulge. Eventually Richardson and his brutal aide, Wilitz (Kerwin Mathews) are the unit's sole survivors when they arouse the suspicions of U.S. Sergeant Ludwig (Dick York). Increasingly appalled by the way his country is waging war, Richardson helps the Sergeant and his men capture a strategic road junction and, himself dying of German bullets, Richardson pleads with the German soldiers to lay down their arms and never again say "Heil" to anyone.