During his journey the protagonist lives in Ukraine, Baku, Vienna and an unspecified German university town on the Rhine.

The novel starts with protagonist Franz Tunda, born 1894, escaping confinement in Russia and finding a home with Baranowicz from Poland, who lives in Werchne-Udisnk.

In the spring of 1919 the lieutenant hears of the end of the war and decides to go to Vienna to meet his fiancee, Miss Irene Hartmann.

Tunda falls in love with his supervisor, a Russian woman named Natascha Alexandrowna, becomes a revolutionary himself and gives passionate speeches in support of Communism.

He is asked to join the Communist Party, but leaves to Georgia and falls in love with a woman called Alja.

Tunda leaves his wife, gets Austrian identity papers and later lives in Vienna on unemployment benefit.