After Hitler took over power in 1933, many Jewish artists were forced to leave Germany. Wilhelm Furtwñgler chose to stay. Though never a member of the party, he was a recipient of honors associated with party membership. However, the conductor often used his position and contacts to save hundreds of Jewish musicians from concentration camps. When U.S. Major Steve Arnold is tasked with the pre-trial investigations, his aim is to prove that the conductor's genius contributed to the Nazi propaganda, while Furtwñgler insisted he stayed to bring comfort to the German people with his music.