During the global economic crisis from 1929, the ruthless shipowner Brinkmann from Hamburg is threatened with bankruptcy. The only solution he can think of is committing insurance fraud: Regardless of the crew, he wants to sink his sailing ship “Anna Susanna”. Captain Kleiers is meant to execute the plan. However, he gets caught in the act and dies in the following fight. When the ship sinks a few seamen manage to escape to an uninhabited island. On their return to Hamburg, they are shocked to learn that the insurance claim has been accepted. They take Brinkmann to court, but without success. He has better connections and the responsible public servants are thoroughly corrupt. In the end, the seamen need to accept that sometimes justice draws the short straw against power.