During the Thirty Years' War, the camp-follower Anna Fierling, called "Mother Courage", travels the length and breadth of Europe with her covered wagon. She does not care if it's Catholics or Protestants she trades with as long as business thrives. She loses her three children as a result of the war: bold and spirited Eilif, sincere and upright Swiss Cheese and mute Katrin, who saves the children of Halle by beating a drum on a farmstead roof In wartime, the Fierling children's virtues prove to be deadly. Yet, Mother Courage, remains incorrigible. She will not have anyone "spoil the war" for her and so sets out once more after the soldiers with her wagon.
Helene Weigel
Heinz Schubert
Ernst Busch
Wolf von Beneckendorff
Gerhard Bienert
Eva Brumby
Fritz Hollenbeck
Ekkehard Schall
Angelika Hurwicz
Willi Schwabe
Norbert Christian
Wolf Kaiser
Harry Gillmann
Regine Lutz
Peter Kalisch
Erik S. Klein
Ralf Bregazzi
Gerd E. Schäfer
Axel Triebel
Horst Kube
Wolfgang Lohse
Hans W. Hamacher
Stefan Lisewski
Carola Braunbock
Hilmar Thate