March 1944. While the planet is shaken by World War Two, in a quiet corner of the French countryside, a war between kids is going on... The children from the neighboring villages of Longeverne and Velrans have been waging this merciless war as long as anyone can remember. But this time, their war will take an unexpected turn: the buttons of all the little prisoners' clothes are removed so that they head home almost naked, vanquished and humiliated. This conflict henceforth has a name: the "War of the Buttons." The village that collects the most buttons will be declared the winner. Meanwhile, Violette, a young Jewish girl, has caught the eye of Lebrac, the chief of the Longeverne kids. Will Violette's true origins be discovered and denounced?