Retired Major von Tellheim lives in a Berlin hotel with his faithful servant Just, with no livelihood. The innkeeper moves him from a decent room to a wretched room. The last two months, Tellheim did not pay bills, and the room was needed by the “visiting lady,” a young and beautiful lady with a maid. Just, who adores his major, indignantly remarks to the innkeeper that during the war the "innkeepers" cuddled the officers and soldiers, and in peacetime they lifted their noses. Von Tellheim is a Prussian officer, participant in the internecine Seven Years War of Prussia against Saxony. Tellheim fought not by vocation, but by necessity. He suffers from the fragmentation of the country, does not tolerate arbitrariness in relation to the loser of Saxony. Having received during the war the order to recover high indemnities from residents of Thuringia (part of Saxony), Tellheim reduced the amount of indemnity and gave part of the money for its payment to the Thuringians from their own funds. At the end of the war, the military leadership accuses Tellheim of bribery and dismisses with the threat of trial, loss of honor and fortune.

The widow of his former officer and friend, who died in the war, turns to Tellheim. She fulfills her husband’s last will - to repay the debt to the major and brings the money left over from the sale of things. Tellheim takes no money and promises to help the widow when he can. The generous major always had many debtors, but he, accustomed to giving, not taking, does not want to remember them.

Tellheim offers a servant who owes a salary to make an account and part with a poor master. He recommends Just to one wealthy acquaintance, and he will get used to do without a servant. The cunning Just makes up such an account, according to which he also finds himself in an unpaid debt to the major, who more than once helped him out throughout the war. The servant is sure that without him, with one wounded hand, the major would not be able to get dressed. Just is ready to beg and steal for his master, but this just does not please the major at all. Both grudgingly bicker, but remain inseparable.

Tellheim tells Just to pledge for money the only jewel he has preserved - a ring with the monogram of his girlfriend, Minna von Barnhelm. Young people got engaged during the war and exchanged rings. Just carries the ring to the innkeeper to pay him off.

Tellheim is sought after by his former Wachmister Werner, a close friend who saved his life twice. Werner knows about the plight of the major and brings him money. Knowing the scrupulousness of Tellheim, he offers them to him under the pretext that he will have them better preserved than that of Werner, the gambler. Having learned that the money came from the sale of the family estate, Tellheim does not accept help from a friend and wants to keep him from going to Persia to the war with the Turks, where he voluntarily gathers - a soldier should be only for the good of his homeland.

When a lady arrives with a servant who occupies the former room of Tellheim, it turns out to be his bride, Minna von Barnhelm, who came in search of a loved one. She worries that after the conclusion of the peace, Tellheim wrote to her only once. Minna speaks with her maid Francis only about Tellheim, which, in her opinion, possesses all possible virtues. Both girls come from Thuringia; they know how grateful its inhabitants are for the nobility shown by Tellheim in the case of indemnity.

The innkeeper, wanting to attach the major’s ring expensively, shows it to Minne, and the girl recognizes her ring and monogram, because she wears the same ring with the monogram of Tellheim. Minna’s joy has no limits, her chosen one is somewhere nearby. Minna generously buys the ring from the owner and prepares to meet with Tellheim.

Suddenly seeing Minna, Tellheim rushes to her, but immediately stops and switches to the official tone. This Minna can not understand, the playful and cheerful girl is trying to turn everything into a joke. But practical Francis wits that the major’s affairs are bad, he doesn’t look happy at all.

Tellheim avoids Minna’s embrace and bitterly says that he is not worthy of her love, and therefore “doesn’t dare to love himself *. Reason and necessity ordered him to forget Minna von Barnhelm, since he was no longer the Tellheim she knew; not the prosperous, strong-willed and strong officer to whom she gave her heart. Will she give it now to another Tellheim, the dismissed, deprived of honor, cripple and beggar? Minna gives it back - she takes his hand and puts it on her chest, still not taking Tellheim's words seriously. But Tellheim, in despair from her kindness not deserved by him, breaks free and leaves.

Minna reads a letter from Tellheim in which he refuses it, explaining his situation. Minna does not like his exorbitant pride - not wanting to be a burden to her beloved girl, rich and noble. She decides to play a joke with this "blind man", to play the role of impoverished and unhappy Minna. The girl is sure that only in this case Tellheim will "fight for her with the whole world." In addition, she starts a comic combination with rings, replacing the Tellheim ring on her hand with hers.

At this time, Minna learns that her uncle, Count von Buchwal, who personally does not know the major, but wants to meet the chosen one of his only heiress, is coming. Minna informs Tellheim about this and warns that uncle heard a lot of good things about him, uncle travels as a guardian and as a father to “hand” Minna to a major. In addition, the count carries the amount of money that Tellheim lent to the Thuringians. Tellheim is feeling a positive change in his business, the military treasurer has just told him that the king is withdrawing the charge from Tellheim. But the major does not accept this news as a complete restoration of his honor, so he believes that he is still not worthy of Minna. Minna deserves nothing to “not tarnished husband.”

Now Minna is forced to play a different role. She removes the ring from her finger and returns it to Tellheim, freeing from loyalty to her, and leaves in tears. Tellheim does not notice that Minna returns the ring to him, not with his monogram, but with his own, a pledge of love and fidelity, which she bought from the innkeeper. Tellheim is trying to follow Minna, but Francis restrains him, devoting his mistress to the “secret”. Minna allegedly escaped from her uncle, losing his inheritance for not agreeing to marry at his request. Everyone left Minna, condemning her. Francis advises Tellheim to do the same, especially since he took his ring from Minna’s hand.

And here Tellheim is thirsty for decisive action. He borrowed a large sum from satisfied Werner for the redemption of the ring of Minna laid down from the owner, so that he would marry her immediately. Tellheim feels how the misfortune of his beloved girl inspires him, because he is able to make her happy. Tellheim rushes to Minna, and she shows an air of coldness and does not take back his ring.

At this time, a courier appears with a letter from the Prussian king, who fully justifies Tellheim and kindly invites him to return to military service. Satisfied Tellheim encourages Minna to share his joy with him and builds a plan for her wedding and a happy life together, in which there is no place for the king to serve. But he runs into the skillfully played resistance of the girl: the unfortunate Barnhelm will not become the wife of a happy Tellheim, only "equality is a solid foundation of love."

Tellheim is again in despair and confusion, realizing that Minna is repeating his previous arguments against their marriage. Minna sees that she is going too far with her joke, and she has to explain to the “gullible knight" the meaning of the whole intrigue.

Count von Buchwal, the guardian of Minna, who comes in handy at this moment, is glad to see the young couple together. The Earl expresses his deep respect for Tellheim and the desire to have him as his friend and son.