The true story of a duel during World War II between celebrated Russian sniper, Vassili Zaitsev, and the Nazi's best sharpshooter, Major Konig, set against the epic battle of Stalingrad. Unassuming and self-contained, Vassili is just an ordinary man who performs his duty with extraordinary skill. With Stalingrad ready to fall into German hands and the Soviet Union on the verge of collapse, there could be no better time for a hero to emerge. Realizing Vassili's potential, Soviet political officer, Danilov, creates the soldier into a national hero. However, when Danilov and Vassili fall in love with Tania, a courageous female soldier, Danilov grows to hate the man he created. Meanwhile, Vassili gains another enemy when he becomes the target of Germany's best sharpshooter, Major Konig, who has been ordered to find and kill Vassili. With exquisite patience and skill, each man stalks the other, fighting his war in solitude while countless men die around them in the rubble of Stalingrad.