The narrative follows the intertwined lives of two childhood friends, one Jewish and one Aryan, as they navigate the shifting political landscape of Germany from the Weimar Republic through the collapse of the Third Reich. Walter Matern and Eddi Amsel serve as the primary conduits for the story, their friendship tested by the rise of National Socialism and the subsequent moral decay of their nation. The narrative framework is complex and non-linear, utilizing multiple perspectives and shifting temporal planes to examine the complicity of the German populace. The world is defined by the physical and psychological scars of war, where the boundaries between reality and myth blur under the weight of historical trauma. The protagonists struggle against the encroaching tide of fanaticism, their personal objectives often thwarted by the systemic violence and ideological rigidity of their environment.

Discussion often centers on the dense, challenging prose style that demands significant engagement from the reader. Critics frequently highlight the effectiveness of the novel's satirical edge in exposing the absurdity and horror of the Nazi era. Readers often note the balance between the intimate character development of Matern and Amsel and the broader, sweeping historical context of the narrative. The atmosphere is described as both chaotic and meticulously constructed, reflecting the fragmented nature of German identity during the mid-twentieth century. Many readers find the work to be a significant contribution to post-war literature due to its uncompromising look at national guilt.