1812: Napoleon orders German Princess Marie Luise to marry Polish Prince Potovski. Hussar Hansgeorg is to save and escort her so she can marry the Duke of Brunswick. But she refuses - because she has fallen in love with Hansgeorg.

In 1812, during the French period, large parts of Germany are occupied by the troops of Napoleon. Several paramilitary Freikorps units battle the French forces, among them the Black Brunswickers led by the 'Black Duke' Frederick William of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. After the War of the Fifth Coalition, the Black Hussars are pursued by Napoleon throughout the country, but frequently take refuge with the noble-minded German people.—GusF