This color documentary uses archival material and contemporary footage to trace the history of Marx-Engels Square and the Palace of the Republic. Various stages in the construction of the monumental building are documented, from the initial excavations to Honecker's speech at the laying of the cornerstone to the placement of the topping-out wreath. Complementing these are shots of the building's interior rooms with their modern decoration and technical equipment. The film presents the project in a positive light as a cultural center dedicated to the East German people.