The film is based on real events. The whole family of Serezha Aleshkov, a 5-year-old boy, was killed by the Nazis. The boy ran into the forest. In the German rear of a boy dying of hunger, Soviet intelligence officers found and brought them to their military unit. The regimental commander adopted a child. Together with the father found, the boy spent two years at the front. Was injured. He was awarded the medal "For Military Merit". By Stalin’s personal order, Seryozha was sent to the rear and enlisted in a military school.