Wounded and dishonourably discharged from the Prussian Army and threatened by financial troubles and serious bribery allegations, Major von Tellheim waits at a Berlin hotel, with his servant, Just, for the outcome of his trial.
His penniless condition is because repayment of a large sum advanced to the government during the recent war is being held up and his honor in making the loan questioned.
Instead, he bids his servant to take his last possession of value, an expensive ring, and pawn it to satisfy the landlord's bill and his own back wages.
The garrulous landlord shows the ring to some newly-arrived guests, revealing considerable information concerning the owner's circumstances.
In a final scene of celebration, matters are settled to the satisfaction of everyone, including Franziska and Paul Werner who have discovered a lively interest in each other.
[3] In 1786 an English version The Disbanded Officer by James Johnstone appeared at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket in London.
[5] A production also premiered on 16 December 2005 at the Wiener Burgtheater, with the lead roles taken by Sven-Eric Bechtolf and Sabine Haupt – its key point was that money was in lieu of honour.
Another was put on at the Deutsches Theater in Berlin in January 2005, with Martina Gedeck as Minna, Ulrich Matthes as Tellheim and Nina Hoss as Franziska.