"The Snow Was Black" unfolds in a wintry city under the shadow of occupation. In this bleak setting, nineteen-year-old Frank Friedmaier embarks on a path of violence, motivated by neither personal vendettas nor ideological commitments. Despite his youth, Frank embodies a chilling detachment, moving through life with a cold indifference to the chaos he creates.

Plotting in the Shadows

The story opens in a bustling café, where Frank, seemingly on a whim, plots to murder a noncommissioned officer of the occupying forces. Armed with a borrowed knife and no clear rationale, he waits in a dark alley. His neighbor, Gerhardt Holst, unknowingly witnesses Frank’s sinister intent, yet this does not deter Frank from his deadly mission.

Life at Home Amidst Conflict

Frank's home life is marked by a stark contrast to the grim reality outside. His mother, Lotte, maintains a brothel catering to the occupying officers, providing them with a life of comfort amidst the city's deprivation. While neighbors like Holst and his daughter, Sissy, struggle with scarcity, Frank lives in excess, surrounded by warmth and plenty.

An Unfeeling Existence

Frank's relationships are transactional at best. He exploits the women in his mother’s employ without attachment or compassion. His apathy extends to a young violinist wrongfully accused of the officer's murder, whose sorrowful mother ultimately succumbs to grief. Frank's world is one of exploitation and illicit dealings, including his partnership with the repellent Fred Kromer.

Schemes and Betrayals

In a venture with Kromer, Frank visits a village from his childhood to steal from an old watchmaker. Upon being identified by the watchmaker’s sister, Frank coldly kills her, showcasing his capacity for brutality. Back in the city, Frank conspires with Kromer to compromise Sissy, a plan thwarted by Sissy's awareness and strength, leaving Frank with only her apartment key as a reminder of his failure.

Descent into Recklessness

Frank’s life spirals as he indulges in alcohol and flaunts the spoils of his crimes. His growing recklessness culminates in a sudden arrest, not for the true extent of his crimes, but for an unrelated offense. Ironically, Frank’s life of crime remains largely unpunished as he is detained for a murder he did not commit.

Isolation and Reflection

Imprisoned in solitary confinement, Frank is left to the echoes of other prisoners and the constant threat of execution. His interactions with his captors, especially the enigmatic "Old Gentleman," are exercises in patience and psychological endurance. During these interrogations, Frank experiences fleeting moments of yearning for a normal life, a life he has irrevocably lost.

Family Visits and a Shift

Frank's mother visits, urging him to collaborate with the authorities, but it is the anticipated visit from Holst and Sissy that begins to soften him. Their forgiveness and Sissy’s declaration of love become pivotal moments, offering Frank a semblance of redemption. In this newfound emotional clarity, Frank confesses to his crimes, finding an unexpected peace in his acceptance of fate.

The Final Reckoning

Having been granted forgiveness and acceptance, Frank faces his end with a calm resignation, standing before the firing squad with a sense of fulfillment and release. In the bleak world of "The Snow Was Black," Frank's final act is not one of defiance but of quiet surrender to the consequences of his actions.