French Riviera, 1956.

Erich Milke, director of Stasi, assigns Inspector Bernie Gunther to travel to London and poison Ann Friends with thallium, an agent with whom both had collaborated in the past. Milke leaves him no room to refuse. On the trip to England, Gunther is accompanied by Friedrich Korsch, his old comrade from Kripo, who now works for Stasi and is there to ensure that the inspector does the job correctly. While traveling to Kais, Gunther escapes. He heads towards the German border, trying to go unnoticed, while recalling the last time he worked with Korsch.

Bavarian Alps, 1939.

In Hitler's country house in Obersalzberg, an engineer who supervises the works being carried out in the Leader's Territories is murdered. Bernie Gunther is chosen to investigate the case with utmost secrecy and takes Friedrich Korsch as his assistant. He has exactly one week to find the murderer, until Hitler arrives to celebrate his fiftieth birthday. Gunther knows well the troubles he has gotten himself into. It would be catastrophic if Hitler discovers that a murder has been committed on the terrace of his house. However, the mountain also hosts the elite of the Nazi party. It would be worse for Gunther if the murderer is one of them.