Gretchen Diemer volunteers for the German Red Cross as the Great War breaks out in her home country of Germany. After her and her younger brother lie about their age to join in the fight she quickly finds herself deep in the chaos that is trench warfare. She puts her neck on the line for a group of French sisters she rescues at the onslaught of fighting and they travel between the Western and Eastern Fronts as their duties change with the intensity of threats to the fatherland. Gretchen soon discovers how unforgiving a war can be when she seems to be losing one loved one after the next. As hearts are severed among the fronts, new friendships are formed playing on loyalties far out of anyone's control. With the war lasting longer and longer it becomes too trying for anyone to withstand. When she leasts expects it an almost otherworldly visit shakes her life up one more time. Will she be strong enough to see this war through to the end or will it prove too much?