What Is The Odessa File About?
The premise of The Odessa File in 314 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the restless streets of Hamburg, 1963, a city still echoing with the aftermath of war, a young freelance reporter roams the gray alleys and bustling newsrooms with notebook in hand. Peter Miller is driven by a quiet determination that belies the ordinary cadence of his assignments; he is the kind of journalist who follows a stray lead long after the headlines have moved on. When the suicide of an elderly Jewish survivor draws his attention, it becomes a catalyst that pulls him deeper into a world where history’s darkest chapters linger in the shadows of modern ambition.
The film paints a brooding portrait of a post‑war Europe where old loyalties resurface beneath the veneer of reconstruction. A clandestine network of former SS officers, known only as ODESSA, quietly orchestrates its own agenda, skirting the bright optimism of the new West and the looming tension of the Cold War. The atmosphere is thick with suspicion—every conversation in smoky cafés and every bureaucratic hallway hides a possible double‑cross, and the line between ally and adversary blurs in the dim glow of a city trying to forget its sins. The tone balances stark, almost documentary‑like realism with a lingering sense of noir intrigue, inviting the audience to feel the weight of secrets that refuse to stay buried.
Caught between the relentless pursuit of truth and the perilous maze of covert power, Peter must decide how far he is willing to go to uncover a hidden conspiracy that threatens to rewrite the narrative of an entire generation. His personal stakes intertwine with the broader moral questions of accountability and remembrance, setting the stage for a tense, cat‑and‑mouse journey through the underbelly of a society that is simultaneously rebuilding and concealing. The story promises a compelling blend of investigative grit, historical resonance, and the quiet dread of an unseen enemy that still pulls the strings from the darkness.
What Happens in The Odessa File?
The complete story of The Odessa File, from the first scene to the last, in 784 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 6 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
On 22 November 1963, Peter Miller, a young freelance reporter in Hamburg, West Germany, pulls his car over to listen to a radio report on the John F. Kennedy assassination in Dallas. As a result, he happens to be stopped at a traffic signal as an ambulance passes by on a highway.
He follows the ambulance and discovers it is en route to pick up the body of an elderly man who has committed suicide, leaving behind no family. Peter obtains the man’s diary and learns the man was Salomon Tauber, a Jewish Holocaust survivor. Salomon Tauber’s diary details information on his life in the Riga Ghetto during World War II, (including the name of the SS officer who ran the camp, Eduard Roschmann). Salomon’s diary catalogues all of Roschmann’s crimes, including the murder of a highly decorated Wehrmacht officer while attempting to flee at the end of the war.
Peter is filled with a determination to hunt Roschmann down, and he sets out to meet famed Nazi-hunter Simon Wiesenthal, who informs him about ODESSA, a secret organization for former members of the SS which is developing a missile guidance system for Nasserist Egypt. Wiesenthal explains that most of the Hamburg Police are members of ODESSA and not to be trusted. As Peter leaves, he is accosted by Israeli Mossad agents who suspect Peter of trying to harm Wiesenthal. Peter manages to convince the men that his true mission is to find and bring Roschmann to justice. The Israelis propose to send Peter deep undercover in the ODESSA. Peter agrees to the mission, and with the help of the Israelis, is provided with a cover identity. Peter is to be a former SS soldier who died recently in a nearby hospital. He does not inform his girlfriend Sigi, who was attacked in an attempt to get the whereabouts of Peter.
The Israelis drill Peter on all details of his cover identity in preparation of meeting with ODESSA. Complete with a new cover identity, Peter gains access to the inner ranks of the ODESSA. After getting through his first test, he is sent to get a fake passport from a forger who is working for ODESSA. While awaiting his train, Peter blunders by making a call to Sigi to assure her that he is OK. Thinking he is safe, he boards the train. Meanwhile, the ODESSA report back that Peter has made a call, and they work out that Peter is not who he says he is. An assassin is dispatched to kill him. Peter meets with the forger Klaus Wenzer, a shy, insecure young man living with his mother. Klaus tells Peter to return after the weekend to take passport photos but then calls him after midnight and tells him to return within the hour.
Suspicious, Peter rings Klaus’ home from his hotel and, having had no answer, is wary and sees the armed assassin who is waiting for him. Peter sneaks into the house and awakes Klaus’ mother: she mistakes him for a priest and begs him to pray for her son. He then tackles the assassin and manages to kill the man. Whilst exploring Klaus’ safe, he uncovers a book, the ODESSA file, detailing every fake ID Klaus created and divulging the real identity of those he created the fake IDs for. Peter takes the file and hides it in a train station locker, later giving the key to Sigi, lest anything should happen to him.
Peter, victorious, returns to the Israelis and details all he has found but refuses to disclose the location of the file until Eduard Roschmann has been apprehended. The Israeli agents reluctantly agree to Peter’s demands, and he then leaves for Roschmann’s home, where he finds him living an opulent life as a munitions factory owner using an alias. Peter manages to gain access to the mansion and evade his security before confronting Roschmann at gunpoint. Peter reveals Salomon Tauber’s diary to Roschmann, who attempts to deny everything, claiming Peter has been misled. Peter then discloses to Roschmann Salomon’s description of the murder of a fellow German Wehrmacht officer at the end of the war. Peter goes through the unique details of the cowardly murder and then discloses that the Wehrmacht officer was in fact Peter’s father. Roschmann, realising he is about to be exposed, panics and goes for his gun, forcing Peter to defend himself. Peter returns fire at Roschmann, killing the former SS officer who had killed his father.
The detailed ODESSA files obtained by Peter are used to arrest numerous Nazi war criminals, including high-ranking members of the police. Later, Roschmann’s factory mysteriously burns to the ground before any rockets are delivered to Egypt.
The Odessa File Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Peter hears JFK assassination report in Hamburg” to “Roschmann killed; ODESSA files spark arrests”. 12 events name a place, across 11 locations.
- 1
Peter hears JFK assassination report in Hamburg
On 22 November 1963, Peter Miller pulls his car over in Hamburg to listen to a radio report on President Kennedy's assassination. He ends up following an ambulance that carries the body of an elderly man who has committed suicide. From the man's belongings, Peter retrieves Salomon Tauber's diary, which hints at a dark wartime past and Roschmann's crimes.
When:22 November 1963 Where:Hamburg, West Germany
- 2
Diary reveals Riga Ghetto horrors and Roschmann
Reading Tauber's diary, Peter learns about life in the Riga Ghetto and the crimes of SS officer Eduard Roschmann. The diary provides a map to Roschmann's past and a motive for pursuing justice. Peter becomes determined to track down Roschmann and tell his story.
When:November 1963 Where:Hamburg
- 3
Wiesenthal explains ODESSA and corrupt Hamburg police
In a meeting with Simon Wiesenthal, Peter is introduced to ODESSA, a shadowy network of former SS members. Wiesenthal warns that many Hamburg police are linked to ODESSA and cannot be trusted. The conversation solidifies Peter's resolve to expose Roschmann and bring him to account.
When:November 1963 Where:Wiesenthal's office
- 4
Mossad offers undercover mission
Israeli Mossad agents confront Peter and propose he go deep undercover within ODESSA to gather evidence. He agrees to the plan and is given a cover identity as a recently deceased SS soldier. Peter chooses not to tell his girlfriend Sigi about the plan, increasing personal risk.
When:November 1963 Where:Israel (Mossad briefing)
- 5
Cover identity training
The Israelis drill Peter on every detail of his new cover, preparing him to blend into ODESSA's inner ranks. He receives a carefully constructed backstory and the first steps toward insertion. The training underscores the dangers of exposure and the stakes of the mission.
When:November 1963 Where:Israel
- 6
Klaus Wenzer the forger and the passport plan
Peter is tasked with obtaining a fake passport from Klaus Wenzer, a forger working with ODESSA. Klaus is nervous and tells Peter to return after the weekend, then calls him back urgently with a new deadline. The setup tests Peter's nerve as he moves closer to the operation.
When:November 1963 Where:Klaus Wenzer's workshop
- 7
Suspicion and confrontation at Klaus's place
ODESSA detects the false identity and an assassin is dispatched to kill Peter. Peter, staying one step ahead, sneaks into Klaus's house, wakes Klaus's mother who mistakes him for a priest, and avoids capture. In a staged struggle, Peter defeats the assassin and escapes.
When:November 1963 (evening) Where:Klaus Wenzer's home
- 8
The ODESSA file and the train station locker
Peter searches Klaus's safe and uncovers the ODESSA file listing every fake ID and the real identities behind them. He hides the file in a train station locker and entrusts the key to Sigi, hoping to safeguard the evidence. The discovery significantly escalates the danger he faces.
When:November 1963 Where:Klaus's workshop
- 9
Return to the Israelis; file kept secret
Back with the Israeli team, Peter summarizes what he has found but refuses to disclose the file's location until Roschmann is captured. The agents reluctantly accept his condition, recognizing that the file's contents could jeopardize the operation if released prematurely. The tension between mission progress and personal safety deepens.
When:November 1963 Where:Israeli briefing room
- 10
Roschmann's opulent life and access
Peter travels to Roschmann's opulent mansion, where the former SS officer now runs a munitions factory under an alias. He works his way past security to reach Roschmann's inner circle and prepare for the confrontation. The garish wealth contrasts with the hidden brutality of Roschmann's empire.
When:Late 1963 Where:Roschmann's mansion
- 11
Showdown with Roschmann
Confronting Roschmann, Peter produces Salomon Tauber's diary and forces the Nazi to confront his crimes. Roschmann denies everything, but Peter details the murder of a German Wehrmacht officer – who is revealed to be Peter's father. Realizing exposure is imminent, Roschmann panics and draws his gun, triggering a deadly exchange.
When:Final confrontation Where:Roschmann's mansion
- 12
Roschmann killed; ODESSA files spark arrests
Peter shoots Roschmann in self-defense, ending the immediate threat. The recovered ODESSA files are used to arrest numerous Nazi war criminals, jolting postwar justice. Roschmann's factory burns down under mysterious circumstances before any rockets can be delivered to Egypt, sealing the case.
When:Aftermath Where:Roschmann's mansion / Roschmann's factory
Who Are the Main Characters in The Odessa File?
6 characters, among them Peter Miller (Jon Voight), Salomon Tauber (Towje Kleiner) and Eduard Roschmann (Maximilian Schell): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
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Peter Miller (Jon Voight)
Played by Jon Voight
A bold, curious young freelance reporter in Hamburg who pursues Salomon Tauber's diary and the man behind it. He is driven by a strong sense of justice, willing to take risks and operate undercover to bring Roschmann to account. His dual mission—exposing the truth and protecting his relationship with Sigi—tests his resolve and judgment.
- 🎯 Protagonist
- 🕵️ Reporter
- 🧭 Undercover
- ST
Salomon Tauber (Towje Kleiner)
Played by Towje Kleiner
An elderly Holocaust survivor whose diary becomes the catalyst for the hunt. The diary reveals Tauber’s wartime experiences in the Riga Ghetto and the crimes of Roschmann, making him the moral anchor of the story.
- 🧓 Survivor
- 📜 Diarist
- 🕊️ Memory
-
Eduard Roschmann (Maximilian Schell)
Played by Maximilian Schell
A ruthless former SS officer whose luxurious life masks a brutal wartime record. Roschmann’s crimes, recounted in Tauber’s diary, show a calculating mind that evades punishment even as the pursuit closes in.
- 🗡️ War criminal
- 🏢 Industrialist
- 💼 Power
-
Klaus Wenzer (Derek Jacobi)
Played by Derek Jacobi
A shy, insecure forger living with his mother, whose fake IDs enable ODESSA’s operations. He becomes a pivotal link in the chain Peter must navigate, revealing the human cost behind bureaucratic crime.
- 🧑💼 Forger
- 🫣 Shy
- 🔎 Identity Fraud
- SW
Simon Wiesenthal (Shmuel Rodensky)
Played by Shmuel Rodensky
The famed Nazi hunter who informs Peter about ODESSA and cautions him about the network’s reach. He embodies a relentless commitment to accountability and the power of historical truth.
- 🕵️♂️ Nazi Hunter
- 🌍 Justice
- S(
Sigi (Mary Tamm)
Played by Mary Tamm
Peter’s girlfriend, who is attacked to force Peter into danger and who becomes a grounding influence as he pursues his dangerous mission. She offers emotional support and resilience amidst the peril.
- 👩 Partner
- 💞 Support
- 🧭 Emotional Anchor
Where and When Is The Odessa File Set?
The Odessa File is set in Hamburg and Riga Ghetto (1963, with WWII flashbacks (early 1940s)). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1963, with WWII flashbacks (early 1940s)
1963 anchors the action as Peter Miller pursues justice in Hamburg's streets. The film also retreats into early 1940s flashbacks to Riga's ghetto and the end-of-war crimes, building the link between personal history and global atrocity. This structure shows how the past continues to shape present-day choices and risks.
Where
Hamburg, Riga Ghetto
Set primarily in Hamburg, West Germany, in 1963, the story follows a young reporter chasing a Nazi war criminal. The city is depicted as a bustling, rebuilding hub where secrets lurk in the shadows of postwar life. Salomon Tauber’s Riga Ghetto diary anchors the narrative, reminding viewers of the brutal past behind modern-day headlines. The ODESSA network is suggested to operate beneath the surface of this urban landscape.
- 🗺️ Hamburg
- 🗺️ Riga Ghetto
- 🕰️ WWII
What Are the Themes of The Odessa File?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Justice, Identity and Memory.
-
01
Justice
A central thread is the pursuit of Nazi criminals and accountability for wartime crimes. Peter’s undercover mission tests loyalty, cunning, and moral boundaries, highlighting the costs of seeking justice. The diary and Roschmann’s exposure force viewers to weigh vengeance against due process. The narrative argues that memory must translate into action to prevent impunity.
-
02
Identity
The film probes identity under disguise, as Peter adopts a forged persona to infiltrate ODESSA. That tension between who he pretends to be and who he is drives much of the suspense and raises questions about trust. The mission shows how deception can protect lives but also blur ethical lines. Ultimately, identity is shown to be both a shield and a burden.
-
03
Memory
Memory of the Holocaust drives the plot, compelling characters to confront past horrors. Tauber’s diary links Riga to Hamburg, tying personal tragedy to a broader history of crimes. The story uses memory to motivate action while illustrating how history can be manipulated by those who wish to escape accountability. Remembering becomes a duty that shapes present decisions.
What Kind of Film Is The Odessa File?
Tense in tone, with fast pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Tense
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A tense and fast-paced espionage thriller that follows a journalist's obsessive and dangerous undercover investigation into a secret Nazi network, creating a gripping atmosphere of constant peril and grim historical reckoning.
- suspenseful
- anxious
- grim
- determined
- methodical
- paranoid
- journalist investigation
- nazi hunters
- secret organization
- revenge
Content notes: suicide, war violence, murder, antisemitism, holocaust trauma.
Quiz
How well do you remember The Odessa File? Test yourself on the story.
Where to Watch The Odessa File
Stream it on fuboTV and History Vault, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
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