Autumn, 1943. Twenty-six year old Rosa Rosa, having fleed Berlin, reaches the small, isolated East Prussian village of Gross-Partsch where her in-laws live and where her husband, who is on the front, has written to her to take refuge while awaiting his return.

Rosa soon discovers that the apparently peaceful village hides a secret: inside the neighbouring forest lies Hitler’s headquarters, known as Wolf's Lair. The Fuhrer sees enemies everywhere and the risk of his being poisoned is his obsession. One morning at dawn Rosa is taken, along with other young women from the village, to taste the food cooked for him...

Torn between fear of death and hunger, the tasters will form alliances, friendships and secret pacts among themselves, determined not to give up hope.