Los Angeles, May 1945, World War II is over. A young German-American by the name of Louis Adlon Jr.is conscripted into the army. Newspaper magnate William R. Hearst sends him to devastated Berlin to serve as overseas correspondent. His task is to deliver sensational stories about the whereabouts of Nazi greats and other news from a dying Germany. There is no better place to find information than in the world famous hotel Adlon. Miraculously, it has not been ravaged by war. Louis who spends a pampered life as a companion to stars and starlets in Hollywood grew up in this hotel.When he arrives in Berlin the hotel has burned down. Russian soldiers have put fire to it in the first few days after the war ended. Louis is deeply shocked. When he recovers his composure, his childhood memories assail him. He settles in the staffs quarters in a part of the building which has withstood the fire and begins to write..