In the late summer of 1958, party secretary Ernst Wollni is sent from Berlin to the village of Schwarzwalde to help set up an agricultural cooperative. In the village he meets his childhood friend Fritz Grimmberger again. Their friendship is put to the test as Grimmberger opposes collectivization. Nevertheless, Wollni manages to motivate the villagers and get the LPG going. Grimmberger, however, ruins himself by going it alone. When his daughter Helga also wants to leave him and study in the city, he realizes his mistake. Grimmberger and Wollni reconcile at the village festival.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Johannes ArpeFritz Grimmberger | Fritz Grimmberger |
 Bruno CarstensWollni | Wollni |
| TTheresia WiderHelga Grimmberger | Helga Grimmberger |
 Rudolf UlrichSchindel | Schindel |
| BBrigitte LindenbergBerta Schindel | Berta Schindel |
 Elfriede FlorinEmma Grimmberger | Emma Grimmberger |
 Helga GöringLydia | Lydia |
 Dieter PerlwitzAnton | Anton |
 Marga LegalWanka | Wanka |
 Peter SturmKleinmann | Kleinmann |
 Doris ThalmerAmalie Kleinmann | Amalie Kleinmann |
 Hans-Joachim BüttnerNot listed | Not listed |
| HHans EmonsNot listed | Not listed |
| AAdolf Peter HoffmannNot listed | Not listed |
 Herbert DirmoserNot listed | Not listed |
| AArthur ReppertNot listed | Not listed |
| GGünter RügerNot listed | Not listed |
 Nico TuroffArbeiter | Arbeiter |