Small Hands in a Big War

An underage French schoolboy is full of patriotic enthusiasm at the start of the war. Against the will of his parents he signs up. His romantic dreams of honour soon give way to disillusionment with modern warfare.

A poor Flemish girl is caught stealing. The German occupying forces punish her severely: four months in prison or an impossibly large fine. She flees in secret and passes an electrified security fence at the Belgian border.

A German girl helps her older sister, who is taking care of wounded soldiers. When the senior doctor refuses to treat a poison-gas victim, she decides to help the soldier on her own in secret and manages to save him.

A shepherd from South Tyrol is forced to guide Italian soldiers, who are attacking his homeland, through the Alps. With talent, luck and teamwork they survive the dangers of the high mountains and even an avalanche.

A twelve-year old American girl flees with her parents from the war in Europe. They board a Dutch freighter which is to bring them to America. On board, the girl discovers a stowaway. The captain wants to catch him.