It's 1944. Elizabeth's father is fighting with the German army on the eastern front. Her mother works at Dresden zoo, where her favourite animal is a young elephant named Marlene. When the zoo director tells her the dangerous animals must be shot, Elizabeth's mother moves Marlene into the back garden! Then the bombs start to fall. Their home destroyed, Elizabeth and her family flee the bombed-out city. It would be hard enough, without an elephant in tow!