John Sutro

A mismatched collection of conscripted civilians find training tough under Lieutenant Jim Perry and Sergeant Ned Fletcher when they are called up to replace an infantry battalion that had suffered casualties at Dunkirk.

In the early days of World War II, a German U-boat is sunk in Canada's Hudson Bay. Hoping to evade capture, a small band of German soldiers led by commanding officer Lieutenant Hirth attempts to cross the border into the United States, which has not yet entered the war and is officially neutral. Along the way, the German soldiers encounter brave men such as a French-Canadian fur trapper, Johnnie, a leader of a Hutterite farming community, Peter, an author, Philip and a soldier, Andy Brock.

While casing a bank he intends to rob, gangster Leo discovers one of the clerks, Antonio, is his exact double. He kidnaps Antonio and robs the bank, posing as Antonio. But Leo hadn't accounted for the involvement of Antonio's wife, Dorothy.

In Ischia, a priest uses the money a young woman has made on the black market toward a home for illegitimate children.

The Pope and Cardinal Montefiasco plot to bring England back within the fold of the Catholic Church. Montefiasco decides to do this by first converting the Prince of Wales, then arranging the murder of leading Protestants on St Bartholomew's day. The Prince falls under the influence of the homosexual Dean of Balliol, an ally of the Cardinal, but may yet be saved by his love for cabaret girl Beatrice...