简介：Berlingeristhesortyoftwomenwhogrowuptogetherinpre-warGermany;whenRoeder'sparentsdie,Berlinger'sfathertakestheorphanedboyunderhiscare.Asthetwoboysapproachadulthood,theircontraddictorytemperamentsleadthemalongdifferentpaths:theidealisticyoungBerlinger,abrilliantchemist,refusestogivehisfather'sfactoyovertotheNaziwareffort,muchtothedismayofhisfriendRoeder,whohasbeenmanagingtheplantforhimandhasjoinedtheNaziparty.DepsitethepressureRoederputsonBerlingertoaccede,suchasthreateningthelivesofBerlinger'swifeandchild,nothingcancoercethestaunchindividualisttodousehisspirit,andhetakeshisonlyrecoursebyescapingtoLatinAmericaandleavinghiswifeandchildbehind.ThirtyyearslaterBerlingerreturns,stillthestubbornninconformist,madaboutfyingandfilledwithdreamsofbuildingafleetofzeppelinsinthenowramshacklefactory.Roedertooisunchangedwithanausteritysimilartotheskyscraperoffciefromwhichhemanageshiscompany.Oncemoretheambitionsofthetwomenclash:RoederdependsonBerlingertosellhislandinordertosuccessfullyconcludehispropertydevelopmentschemes.…