Plot

During World War II, a squad of Soviet POWs steals a tank from Nazi test site and rushes into a desperate shoot over Germany.

In World War 2, the Germans have a facility testing anti tank weapons on captured tanks crewed by Russian POWs and concentration camp inmates who are usually killed during testing or as they bale out of the damaged tanks. Before tests, they have to ready the tanks for trials in a hangar. One POW prevents another from sabotaging a tank, and plots something with others. Three POWs and a French concentration camp inmate crew a tank and drive to the proving grounds. In the trials they are shelled but survive and, by a ruse, pretend the tank is knocked out. When the Germans approach, they are able to steal a weapon and speed away, crashing out of the proving area and wreaking havoc in a nearby town where they do a smash and grab raid at a clothes shop. They flee into the countryside as search parties are mobilized. They drive through a field of female workers from the east who recognize the tank as one of theirs and run after it. The tank continues leaving the desperate women behind before stopping for the occupants to savor their temporary freedom, change clothes and split up. Two POWs try to escape separately on foot and come close to being captured before the tank re-appears to rescue them both. With all four back on board they continue on their way, driving through towns shooting at German soldiers, demolishing buildings, bridges and a town center memorial statue, where they also stop to get refreshments from a bierkellar. They are able to tune in to Moscow radio and a French broadcast which prompts the Frenchman to amuse his colleagues with a mime act. By now there are multiple reports of the tank's movements leading to fear and panic among the German civilians and much anger within the German military command. The net tightens on the tank which is temporarily disabled by a boulder blown into the track by a mine or shell fire, but the tank driver manages to free the obstruction as the Frenchman keeps the pursuers at bay with a machine gun. Then another explosion kills the Frenchman. The tank later stops while the others bury him. Heavily armed German reinforcements approach and one of the crew hides in a barn to ambush them as the tank is driven off. Another crewman runs to assist him but both are killed. The tank driver continues along the road alone as more forces surround him. Then a German child falls on the road in front of him. Instead of ruthlessly speeding on, the driver jumps out of his coasting tank and saves the child. He is shot as he returns to the tank which trundles onward without him as he dies.