The film is set in the backdrop of the Second World War. The hero Kelly (Clint Eastwood) is a Lieutenant demoted to Private. During a discrete interrogation of a captured German officer, Kelly comes to know about a treasure of gold bars worth of millions which are kept in a bank behind the enemy lines. So Kelly builds up a team with Sergeant Big Joe (Telly Savalas), Sergeant Crapgame (Don Rickles), and the tank commander Oddball (Donald Sutherland). During the three day vacation Kelly along with his team enters the enemy lines and after a severe gun and tank battle, ultimately gets to the treasure and becomes not only rich but also national heroes too. Because officially, they took the risk of their life, even during their vacation.