[1] The story takes place during World War II in the North African desert at the Battle of El Alamein.

An Free French LRDG commando has just carried out an attack on a German position: the lieutenant in command has been killed, and the four remaining men are left to fend for themselves.

Von Stegel warns the commandos that they are heading for an area of soft sands, but they don't listen and quickly get stuck.

Having managed to join an enemy convoy where they can steal supplies, they leave as a French prisoner, recognizing Goldmann, instinctively calls out his name.

During another silting-up, Captain von Stegel seizes the vehicle, takes the four Frenchmen prisoners, and heads back towards Tobruk.

At this moment, an allied armored vehicle spots their German car, and destroys it with a direct hit, killing all four occupants.

The film ends with a victory parade, where a distraught ex-quartermaster Dumas, moved by the memories of the expedition, is roundly rebuked by a spectator for keeping his cap on as the troops pass.