The film's story line is set in 1944, during World War II, and is about a Jewish Hungarian industrialist who, in order to ensure his large family's safe passage out of the Third Reich, is forced to hand over his business and his enormously valuable possessions to the Nazis.

As it happens, Eichmann and Himmler's suspicions are well-founded – despite appearing to be the perfect Aryan couple, Hans and Ingrid are actually Jews working deep undercover with the underground Resistance.

In a sub-plot, Nazi officer Edelhein, the most repulsive of the group, pursues Ingrid – despite her pregnancy – as a perfect foil for implanting his precious seed in the 'Aryan beauty' to populate the new Germany.

As they have regular contact with the Nazis, in their roles as servants, Hans and Ingrid consider taking the opportunity to kill Eichmann and Himmler for the greater good, even if it would mean certain death for the Krauzenbergs and themselves.

The Vassmans are confronted at the last checkpoint before Switzerland by Edelhein, who has discovered Dressler's treachery and has pursued them for the so-called murder of a German soldier, and of course for being Jews.