Due to an intrigue spun by his grandmother and two cousins, the engagement between the officer Hans and his fiancée Traute breaks up.

His own family is satisfied with this development, as they have apparently achieved their goal of preventing Hans and Traute from marrying.

Hans and Traute get back together; she visits him in his apartment while the annual street carnival is taking place outside.

When Traute is alone for a moment, she overhears a loud exchange of words between Hans and Oberleutnant Grobitzsch from the next room.

When she hears Oberleutnant Grobitzsch making disparaging remarks about her, Traute abruptly opens the door to the next room and accuses Hans of having broken his officer's word of honour.