Duke Altichieri rises to power, after his associate, Cpt. Alberico, kills governor Conte Filippo della Scala. 10 harsh years of tyranny follow, until a mysterious figure appears out of nowhere, helping people in their struggle against the regime. He is known by the name Red-Masked Prince, but who is he?

Achilles, a Hulot-like factotum for an evening newspaper, travels around looking for a scoop in the Milan of the "economic miracle."

During the winter of 1944, the partisans stationed in the Ligurian Apennines must go to a factory in Genoa, in order to pick up a delivery of weapons. Meanwhile, there's a strike in the city and the Nazis are trying to suppress it violently. The factory becomes the scene of fighting between the Germans and the partisans but the latter, aided by the workers, will be able to get the better.