There is, for example, the enterprising Bronek, then young Władek, son of a Polish officer with great reservations and prejudices against Jews, then Fredek, the devious son of the pub owner Kusmirek, the small Jewish boy David Libermann with grandfather, and young Hedwig, whose Father the wealthy doctor Dr. Bialek is.

Suddenly everything changes overnight, the Polish residents are harassed, their Jewish fellow citizens are persecuted and arrested.

The old Jew Libermann, himself highly endangered, hides the Jew-hater and officer Kazimierz Wojtan, Wladek's father, who has hitherto been bold and haughty.

The Libermanns are forced to leave their home and move to the Warsaw ghetto, which was specially set up for the Jewish population.

When the characterless bartender at Dr. Białek discovered Jewish roots, he immediately denounced him to the Gestapo.