Russia, winter 1942: Battling against arctic conditions, the German offensive has stalled outside Moscow. As a morale-boossting exercise, a plan is hatched for German climbers to scale the highest peak of the Caucasus mountaun range - Mount Elbrus - and plant the swastika for all the world to see. But they have not reckoned on either the hostility of the local tribes, who want independence from both Russia and Germany, or the team of Russian clilmbers who are approaching from the other side. It is going to be a race against time.