Stern's star reporter Gerd Heidemann needs a scoop. And Konrad Kujau needs money. The latter lives from selling fake Nazi memorabilia as Dr. Konrad Fischer. His idea: to write Hitler's diaries. By a circuitous route, one of them ends up in the hands of Heidemann.

To prove the authenticity of the diaries, Heidemann and his department head, Bloom, travel to the GDR. Meanwhile, Kujau is ready to do business as well - so all Heidemann needs now is the approval of editor-in-chief Michaelis and publishing director Dreier.

Kujau provides the Hitler letters he himself forged for an expert opinion on the authenticity of the diaries, which requires comparative writings. Gold blackmails Elisabeth; he wants information about the diaries, or he will blow the whistle on her and her father.

US media mogul Clark has broken off negotiations on the diaries; meaning no world rights and refinancing. Heidemann and Bloom set out to convince him, accidentally leaving him the dossier with all the information about the diaries. Now things have to move fast at Stern.

The Stern special edition will have to be produced under great time pressure. When Elizabeth speaks of the diaries being fake, Bloom punishes her. At the press conference announcement, the expert does not say what Stern had hoped for... and plunges them into crisis.

Stern continues to believe in the authenticity of the diaries; the BKA's expert opinion brings clarity. Kujau turns himself in to the authorities, and Heidemann also has to answer for his part in the publication of the diaries. The court issues a surprising verdict.