We meet Fredric Henry, an American amgulance driver and a lieutenant in the Italian army. He is stationed in a small village in Italy. Fredric Henry meets Catherine Barkley, a British nurse, through his roommate Rinaldi. Fredric and Catherine start spending a lot of time together, and eventually fall in love. But Fredric has to go to the front with the ambulance unit, and out there he gets wounded in the knee.
Fredric is transported to a field hospital neerby, and then later to an American hospital in Milan were he would get his knee surgery done. Catherine Barkley also gets transferd to the same hospital, and she aids in his recuperation. Fredric becomes restless with cabin fever. Impatiently, he insists on his knee being immediately operated on. During his recuperation after the surgery he spends time with Catherine in Milan. At first Fredric stays in a wheelchair, then on crutches and finaly he can walk.
But during this time Catherine becomes pregnant. They have told themselves that they are married, but they don`t go through with the act because Catherine might get sent away if they start the proceedings.
Frome this point on, events take a downward spiral. No sooner does Fredric return to his post when the Germans attack. This initiates a fullscale retreat of the Italian army. During the retreat Fredric shoots an Italian officer and therefore becomes wanted by the military police. Recklessly abandoning his responsabilities, Fredric finaly meets Catherine again, and they become vagabonds on the run and smuggel themselves into Switzerland. Catherine gives birth to a child, and a couple of months after giving birth she dies of a hemorrhage. And thus the story ends on a sad note.
Alternative ending.
The road was muddy from the constant rain, and it felt like I`d been on the road for weeks, not days. Going back to the front was the last thing I wanted. I missed Catherine greatly. I hoped that we could be together again soon.