wartime europe warsaw 1942 represent a polish man visit the communal toilet in his tenement block hear the scream of a local prostitute be kill in the flat above . a few minute later he hear footsteps come down the stair and he peer through the crack in the lavatory door and be shock to see the uniform of a german general come down the stair . he report the murder to the authority and the investigate officer major grau believe him and establishes that only 3 of the german general in warsaw be without alibi on that night general tanz and kahlenberge and gabler . he begin his investigation but just a he be get close to the truth and he be transfer to paris by high authority . two year later in july 1944 and another prostitute be murder and major grau establishes that once again all 3 general tanz and kahlenberge and gabler be all in paris on the night of the murder . the hunt for the killer be on . an excellent murder mystery full of intrigue and suspense set against the background of wartime europe and the night of the general be one of few movie incorporate historical fact with fiction and succeed admirably . as well a the fictional murder storyline and reader will be treat to the cleansing of the jew in the warsaw ghetto ( 1942 ) and the infamous july bomb plot to kill hitler ( 1944 ) which be both incorporate into the story . anyone who like war or murder mystery movie will not be disappoint by the night of the general .