Towards the end of WWII, Major Joppolo has to reinstate civilian administration in a small Italian town. Although he stops the lynching of the former Fascist mayor by the starving citizens, he is nevertheless harsh on other Mussolini supporters. He also has to get supplies into town without interfering with troop movements. As a gesture of affection for the people in his charge, Joppolo tries to replace the enormous church bell stolen at the start of the war.