Les Films S.F.P.

French colonists in Africa, several months behind in the news, find themselves at war with their German neighbors. Deciding that they must do their proper duty and fight the Germans, they promptly conscript the local native population. Issuing them boots and rifles, the French attempt to make "proper" soldiers out of the Africans. A young, idealistic French geographer seems to be the only rational person in the town, and he takes over control of the "war" after several bungles on the part of the others.

June 1940, near Saumur. During the exodus, the bridges having been destroyed, a group of refugees, brought together by the chance of fleeing the advancing German troops, build a raft to cross the Loire to evacuate a sick little girl.