Senior Sergeant Vaskov is stationed with a group of young female anti-aircraft gunners in a railway station far from the front line. Vaskov is not used to these gunners' active, playful personalities and therefore clashes with them over daily issues. But Vaskov, being the only man in the village, has to accommodate them in many cases.

One day, two German paratroopers appear in the forest nearby. Thinking that they may sabotage military facilities, Vaskov and five of the women attempt to stop the Germans. They pick a perfect defense position, only to find that there are sixteen paratroopers instead of two. Though outgunned and outnumbered, Vaskov decides to hold the Germans for as long as possible. He also sends one of his soldiers out for reinforcements, but while she is trudging through a swamp, she drowns in a quagmire. Vaskov and the remaining four fight the Germans. All four women are killed in action. Vaskov is also seriously wounded and finds the drowned soldier's clothes near the swamp.

They win the battle at last but neither of them can make it back home.