A village in postwar Germany undergoes a nasty transformation when the US military decides it’s perfect for a missile base. Locals detest the occupying force, but they angle to cash in, legal and otherwise, on the economic boom. Neidhardt (Helmut Wildt), a prototypical noir character, works as a trucker in this blackest of markets, playing both sides of the law. His hustle turns horrifying, however, after a fatal accident plunges him further into ruthlessness and mayhem. Controversial on initial release due to its bitter depiction of a nation in the grip of defeat, lawlessness, and lingering anti-Semitism. This new 4K restoration by the Murnau Stiftung is Kautner's original cut, which was censored for political reasons and remained unseen since the film's 1961 premiere.