There is a new guy in the infantry company, Vasily Terkin. He is at war for the second time in his lifetime (the first war is Finnish). Basil for a word does not go into his pocket, a good eater. In general, "a guy even where."

Terkin recalls how he, in a detachment of ten people, made his way from the west, the “German” side, east, to the front. On the way there was the commander’s native village, and the detachment went to his house. The wife fed the fighters, put him to bed. The next morning the soldiers left, leaving the village in German captivity. Turkin would like to go into this hut on his way back to bow to the "good simple woman."

There is a crossing across the river. Platoons plunge into pontoons. Enemy fire disrupts the crossing, but the first platoon managed to cross to the right bank. Those who stayed on the left, waiting for the dawn, do not know what to do next. From the right bank sails Terkin (winter, icy water). He reports that the first platoon is able to provide a crossing if it is supported by fire.

Turkin makes a connection. A shell explodes nearby. Seeing the German "cellar", Turkin takes it. There, in an ambush, awaits the enemy. Kills a German officer, but he manages to injure him. In the "cellar" begin to beat ours. But the tankers discover Terkin and take them to the medical battalion ...

Terkin jokingly argues that it would be nice to get a medal and come with her after a war to a party in the village council.

Leaving the hospital, Terkin catches up with his company. He is being taken in a truck. Ahead is a stopped convoy of transport. Frost. And there is only one accordion - among the tankers. It belonged to their deceased commander. Tankers give harmony to Turkin. First he plays a sad melody, then a funny one, and the dance begins. Tankers recall that it was they who brought the wounded Terkin to the medical battalion, and give him harmony.

In the hut - grandfather (old soldier) and grandmother. Terkin comes to them. He is repairing a saw for the elderly, a watch. She suspects that the grandmother has hidden fat ... The grandmother treats Terkin. And the grandfather asks: “Will we beat the German?” Terkin answers, already leaving, from the threshold: “Beat, father.”

The bearded soldier lost the pouch. Turkin recalls that when he was wounded, he lost his hat, and the nurse girl gave him her. He still protects this hat. Terkin gives the bearded man his pouch, explains: in the war you can lose anything (even life and family), but not Russia.

Terkin hand-to-hand fighting with the German. Wins. He returns from intelligence, leads a “language” with him.

Spring is at the front. The buzz of the May bug is replaced by the buzz of a bomber. The soldiers lie prone. Only Turkin gets up, firing a rifle at an airplane and knocks him down. Turkin is given an order.

Turkin recalls how he met a boy in the hospital who had already managed to become a hero. He proudly emphasized that he was from under Tambov. And the native Smolensk region seemed to Turkin “an orphan”. Therefore, he wanted to become a hero.

The general lets Terkin go home for a week. But the Germans still have his village ... And the general advises on a vacation to wait: "We are with you along the way."

The battle in the swamp for the small village of Borki, from which nothing was left. Turkin encourages his comrades.

Terkin for a week sent to rest. This is a "paradise" - a hut where you can eat four times a day and sleep as much as you like, on the bed, in bed. At the end of the first day, Turkin thinks ... catches a passing truck and goes to his own company.

Under fire, the platoon is going to take the village. leads the "dapper" lieutenant. They are killing him. Then Turkin understands that "lead his turn." The village is taken. And Terkin himself is seriously injured. Turkin lies in the snow. Death persuades him to submit to her. But Vasily does not agree. He is found by people from the funeral team, carried to the sanbat.

After the hospital, Turkin returns to his company, and there everything is different, the people are different. There ... a new Turkin appeared. Only not Vasily, but Ivan. Who is arguing the real Turkin? Already ready to give each other this honor. But the foreman announces that each company "will be given his own Turkin."

The village where Turkin was repairing a saw and a watch is under the Germans. The German took his watch from his grandfather and grandmother. A front line ran through the village. The old people had to move to the cellar. Our scouts come to them, among them - Turkin. He is already an officer. Turkin promises to bring a new watch from Berlin.

With the offensive, Turkin passes by his native Smolensk village. It is taken by others. There is a ferry across the Dnieper. Terkin says goodbye to his native side, which remains no longer in captivity, but in the rear.

Vasily talks about an orphan soldier who came on vacation to his native village, and there was nothing left there, the whole family died. The soldier needs to continue to fight. And we need to remember him, his grief. Do not forget about it when victory comes.

The road to Berlin. Grandma returns from captivity home. The soldiers give her a horse, a cart, things ... "Say, they say, that Vasily Terkin supplied."

Bath in the depths of Germany, in some German house. Soldiers soar. Among them, one - there are a lot of wound scars on him, he knows how to take a steam bath, he doesn’t climb into his pocket for a word, and dresses - at the gymnast of the order, medals. The soldiers say about him: "It's the same as Turkin."