Breathing

Breathing is the most fundamental desire of all living beings. Every person takes around 20,000 breaths a day – automatically and usually without thinking about it. But the more hectic…

Terra X Show Kids

Great fun with lots of knowledge – now also for the little ones! With the “Terra X Show Kids,” the ZDF knowledge brand “Terra X” is now coming to KiKA…

How’s it going, Germany?

We set off on a journey through Germany, following a typical human life – from the maternity ward to an eventful family life to nursing care. In vivid inserts and…

Terra X: Germany in…

In the new Terra X history format “Germany in…” Mirko Drotschmann alias “MrWissen2Go” immerses himself in three epochs that have profoundly changed life in Germany: The Early Bronze Age, the…

Lesch’s Cosmos – Gendering:

Delusion or Science?

Harald Lesch goes on the trail of gender research. Is the call for “gender-neutral” language really just ideology or is there something to it scientifically after all? Because research shows:…

Ruhrpott – District in upheaval

Crisis, start-ups and the Silk Road

With more than five million inhabitants, the Ruhr region is the largest metropolitan area in Germany. It extends from Duisburg in the southwest to Hamm in the northeast. There are…

Eckart von Hirschhausen:

On the trail of the seven deadly sins

Over a thousand years ago, the Church drew up a catalog of our worst vices: pride, greed, lust, wrath, gluttony, envy and sloth. Seven deadly sins that sum up our…

Terra X: Who owns the world?

A history of wealth

Since man first settled and ploughed the soil some 10,000 years ago, he has been claiming the earth for himself. Possession has become the essential basis of our civilisation, has…

Disease Island

Research in a Restricted Area

It’s a race against time, because more and more new viruses are on the rise in Europe. Isolated from the rest of the world, the Friedrich Loeffler Institute is located…

Napoleon – Metternich:

The beginning of the end

Dresden, June 26, 1813: For almost nine hours, Metternich and Napoleon fought a duel of words. For the French ruler, everything is at stake. He has conquered almost all of…

The great Terra X-Show

The new episodes of “The great Terra X-Show” are about “Myths of the World”, “Fascinating Phenomena”, “Forces of Nature” and “Legends of the World”. Johannes B. Kerner is once again…

Terra X: Coffee

Secrets of a miracle potion

Coffee is the second most important commodity in the world after oil. But the popular intellectual lubricant has a dark secret: the consumption of coffee and the number of coffee…

Terra X: The Mystery of the Trojan Horse

The history of the Trojan horse is probably one of the most famous stories ever told. A gigantic wooden horse is loaded with Greek soldiers and presented to the Trojans…

A matter of life and death

History of Hygiene

Hygiene is as old as our civilisation, but every era sets its own standards. Whether private or public cleanliness – everywhere and at all times it is shaped by cultural…

Markus Lanz – Sweden unadorned

Does SARS-CoV-2 show the limits of Sweden’s special way for the first time? Markus Lanz travels to Sweden in the winter of 2020/2021, a country whose self-confidence seems to be…

Russians and Germans

7 historical turning points

Russians and Germans – this is a relationship of extremes in the 20th century, a relationship between enmity and friendship, between war and peace. On the occasion of Mikhail Gorbachev’s…

Shalom and Alaaf

“Shalom & Alaaf” tells the story of Jews and carnival – and thus about a largely unknown chapter of Jewish life in Germany. The focus is on the Kölsche Kippa…

Die Story: Operation Vaccine

The difficult way out of the pandemic

An effective vaccine is considered the only exit strategy in the fight against COVID-19. But will it be possible to distribute vaccines to the entire world population? A film about…

Step by Step

Pilgrimage along the Luther Trail

A group of five men and women are setting out together in this special year. Borders had been closed and curfews imposed, the right time for a pilgrimage along Germany’s…

Florian Schroeder means business

Searching for evil

The state of emergency is the new normality. We feel permanently threatened, by a maniac with blow-dried hair in the West, a maniac without hair in the East, and more…

Trade Wars

Throughout History

Since Donald Trump was sworn in as president in January 2017, hardly a day goes by without the media warning of a trade war between the USA and China. According…

Erlebnis Erde – Alexander Gerst on expedition

Journey to Antarctica

Astronaut Alexander Gerst is on his way to a new mission. Instead of going into space, this time he is going into the icy expanses of Antarctica. With a team…

Markus Lanz – The Year 2020

In this extraordinary review of the year Markus Lanz looks back on the stories that moved us in times of Covid-19. Among the guests are: Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder,…

LESCH’S COSMOS – SWINE FEVER, CORONA & CO

THE RISE OF NEW VIRUSES

More than one million people have already died of a virus that probably originates from bats. But the new coronavirus is not the only animal-derived virus that threatens us: In…

Friedrich Engels

In The Shadow of Marx

Together with Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels formed one of the most famous duos in world history. Unlike Marx, Friedrich Engels seems to have unjustly fallen into oblivion. He laid the…

Lesch’s Cosmos – Fake or Fact

How truth falls into bad ways

While the world is experiencing one of the biggest crises of the new millennium, conspiracy ideologies are on the rise. Some consider Corona to be a biological weapon, a gigantic…

Terra X: A CASE FOR LESCH AND STEFFENS

Fighting for the truth

They are the horror stories of our time: governments poison us, climate change is a lie, the earth is a disc…Conspiracy theories, as crazy as they sound, all have one…

Happy Birthday, Kulturzeit!

„Kulturzeit” is 25 years old – a quarter of a century of inspiring and critical views of art, literature and society. As colourful and diverse as “Kulturzeit” is, it is…

Heimatflimmern: SHOPPING, GLAMOUR AND TRADITION

HOHE STRASSE & SCHILDERGASSE IN COLOGNE

They are the most important lifelines of the city, the pulsating heart of Cologne’s business world, the glittering universe of consumption. Beneath its pavement is a 2000-year history – starting…

Lesch’s Cosmos – Soilless Future?

When fields disappear

Erosion, drought, nutrient deficiency – Germany’s soils suffer from their intensive use and the long-term consequences are not even foreseeable. Science has therefore long since developed methods to produce food…

Heimatflimmern: MEGA ATTRACTION CENTRO

FROM STEEL MINE TO GOLD MINE

The CentrO in Oberhausen is one of the largest shopping centres in Europe. A gigantic building complex of 83 hectares, which attracts around 23 million visitors every year. But not…

The Bloody Border

A history of Ireland

In front of breathtaking landscapes, the film tells the painful story of the Irish people, who for centuries tried to free themselves from the colonial grip of the British. They…

Johannes Kepler

Shooting for the Stars

With his discovery of the three “Kepler laws” he revolutionised the thinking about space and time – and became a co-founder of modern science. His successes, however, were overshadowed by…

Heimatflimmern: A perfect summer day

Summer is the time of great freedom for children and adults. Changes from hectic to relaxing, from the blazing sun to the shade, from the city to nature – everyone…

ZDFzoom: China, Trump and Corona

The WHO between the fronts

For Donald Trump there is no doubt who is responsible for the death of tens of thousands of corona infected people in the USA: China and the WHO. In Trump’s…

Corona – Shock and change of times

We are currently witnessing and participating in a stress test of the human community. The effect that the coronavirus is developing is global, but has unforeseen consequences. Society is being…

ZDFzeit: Corona – A view from above

Nature and Men in Lockdown

“ZDFzeit” takes a special look at Germany in the spring of 2020, using helicopters and drones to approach beautiful places and difficult everyday life in Corona times. May it be…

WHAT IF… HITLER HAD WON THE WAR?

What would the world look like today if the Nazis had won the war? A classic among the “What if” questions and an integral part of contemporary pop culture. What…

A GLANCE INTO ETERNITY?

DEATH AND BEYOND

We’re all going to die. But what happens when we die? This is a question we humans have always wondered about. Where will we go? Is there a soul independent…

Orient Express – A train that changed the world

Thanks to literature and film the Orient Express is worldwide the most frequently mentioned train in history. A positively charged connection between Occident and Orient. A myth. Behind it is…

The Way of St. James

The French Way of St. James – the Camino Francés, is one of the most popular and historically significant pilgrimage routes in the world. Three women, two men and a…

On days like these

Season 3

Our turbulent key date tour enters its third round. This time we look at March 8, International Women’s Day, September 11, which is tragically remembered as 9/11, and June 6…

Lesch’s Cosmos – Ageing Research

How to manipulate the clock of life

The dream of eternal youth is paradoxically ancient. What is rather new, however, is that we do not have to surrender to ageing without a fight. There are new ways…

The Repair Show

Season 5

In the fifth season many favourite items with small and big quirks find their way to ‘The Repair Show’ workshop! Presenter Eva Brenner and our professionals have a heart for…

Terra X: Secrets of the Night

Secrets of the Night …delves into a mysterious time of day in two episodes. Fascinating night shots reveal the city and the countryside in an unknown light. What influence does…

THE MAGNIFICENT 10

Season 4

The Magnificent 10 are back with season four! If you’ve been wondering what exciting topics the perennial favourite will be continued with, here’s the answer. This time Hannes Jaenicke comments…

Special People, Special Moments 2019

In the big ZDF year review Markus Lanz looks back on the most emotional highlights of the year and presents extraordinary moments of well-known and unknown heroes and heroines. Amongst…

Our Treasures – The Great Terra X Show

In his new primetime show, Johannes B. Kerner goes on a journey through German history and stops at ten outstanding cultural treasures from different eras. Around these ten treasures, prominent…

The Airport in the Middle of Nowhere

A History of Gander International

Once the world’s largest airport, Gander International was a global hub for aviation, a listening post during the Cold War, a loophole to the west and a refuge for stranded…

Venezuela on the edge of the precipice

How to bring down a state

Twenty years after Hugo Chávez’s revolution, the oil-richest country in the world is experiencing an economic and humanitarian catastrophe: crushed by corruption and poverty, economic sanctions and hyperinflation, Venezuela is…

Terra X: Wild Weather

On the Trail of Climate Research

Heat, drought, storms and floods – is the accumulation of extreme weather situations a coincidence or is it caused by climate change? And how are heat records in Germany, forest…

Markus Lanz – England unadorned

Ordeal of a nation

Great Britain is and has been in a deep crisis long before Brexit. Markus Lanz goes on another exploratory trip and captures the mood of very different characters of British…

The Truth about the Lie

He is the human embodiment of Pinocchio. Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States of America, tells one lie after the other. Incredibly, he has told over 7000…

Poland 39

How German Soldiers became Murderers

It is the prelude to the worst bloodshed of mankind: The German invasion of Poland on the first of September 1939. On the occasion of the 80th anniversary the film…

Bastions of Power

Impregnable fortresses, homes of the rich and beautiful, magnificent buildings brimming with power – no other type of building symbolises an epoch as representative as the castle symbolises the European…

37 GRAD – No time for tears

Parents of children with cancer

When your own child gets the diagnosis of cancer your family’s life will be turned upside down. Treatment often takes years, and the outcome is uncertain, despite ever better treatment…

Mars – Enigmatic Desert World

With Alexander Gerst

Mars is a planet of superlatives – with the largest canyon and the highest volcano in the solar system. It has always inspired imagination and research. It is the next…

Versailles

Shame or Opportunity

No other treaty in history has been given so many epithets as this one: a peace of shame or disgrace, a peace of dictatorship, a peace of annihilation or of…

Magical Stage

Behind the scenes of the Berlin State Opera

With ‘Hippolyte et Aricie’, a courageous new project at the Berlin Staatsoper Unter den Linden is being created and we were involved with the camera right from the start. How…

My hardest journey

A pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela

The Way of St. James – A journey to oneself. In six weeks, five men and women, who have never met before, pilgrimage together over 800 kilometres to the “end…

The Azores

Paradise Islands in the Atlantic

In the middle of the vast expanses of the Atlantic Ocean they suddenly appear: the Azores. A place of longing for sailors, adventurers and nature lovers. It is a world…

ZDFZEIT: Loud, Brash, National

How Salvini, Orbán & Co. divide Europe

Europe is drifting to the right, nationalism is in vogue again, liberal democracies and the EU is being scorned by the right. Is the old Europe even salvageable in the…

The Fascination of Water

Water fills seas and rivers, it piles up icebergs and glaciers, forms fog and clouds. The constant change between ice, water and steam seems completely natural to us, and yet…

Lesch’s Cosmos – Nutrition Trends

How healthy are Low, Slow & No?

Low carb, high fat and interval fasting are in fashion, the struggle to find the right, truly healthy diet is becoming a cult. Food that promises a positive effect on…

“My first time”

First-time Voters meet Top Candidates

Three top candidates meet around 50 first-time voters and discuss issues of the upcoming European elections: “How do you make people believe in the benefits of the EU again?”, “How…

The Big 50

Season 2

Unique sayings, emotional adventures, dramatic encounters, great disasters. Our history is marked by countless emotions and memories. Whether sports, film, science, politics, religion, natural disasters – in the ranking show…

Living among ″The Master Race″

Namibia's struggle against German colonialists

Namibia was a German colony, German-South West Africa, for only 30 years. Yet this era cast a long shadow over the country and Namibia still suffers from the influence of…

ON DAYS LIKE THESE

SEASON 2

We love holidays! And we love history! With “On days like these” we combine both. In the 2nd season we celebrate Easter, Christmas, 17 June and let ourselves be impressed…

Lesch’s Cosmos – All in the Mind?

The Power of Self-Healing

Alternative healing methods are in vogue.  Although evidence-based medicine is often unable to provide explanations, scientists repeatedly discover astonishing results: People can suddenly cope better with pain, heart patients recover…

Germany’s Great Political Scandals

Spying, informing, bribing: Light is finally shed on some of the old Federal Republic’s last secrets. Members of parliament bought by the Stasi, the “Lockheed” bribery scandals, the secret donors…

Lesch’s Cosmos – The Truth Behind the Lie

He is the human embodiment of Pinocchio. Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States of America, tells one lie after the next. Incredibly, he has told over 7000…

The Repair Show

Season 4

The “Repair Show” enters its fourth season! In ten new episodes, the experts concentrate once again on repairing damaged treasures. Grandpa’s old pocket watch has stopped ticking? A precious oil…

Man and the Moon

A Love Story in Three Acts

The moon is a place that intrigues and inspires us. It continues to be the subject of study, but also of songs, stories and paintings. For some, the moon determines…

Special People, Special Moments 2018

In ZDF’s big annual review “Special People, Special Moments 2018”, Markus Lanz takes another look at the year’s most emotional highlights and presents extraordinary moments experienced by sung and unsung…

Expedition to New Horizons

Mit Alexander Gerst ins All

Alexander Gerst is the first German Commander of the International Space Station ISS. The film accompanies him during his two-year training period and the exciting months of his mission “Horizons”.…

ZDF History: Alexander the Great

Rarely has a single person changed the world as profoundly as Alexander the Great changed it in the 4th century BC. In barely a decade, the young Macedonian conquered first…

History 360° – History of Mankind

Presented by Mirko Drotschmann and Harald Lesch

How did we become what we are today? Modern man has been in existence for around 300,000 years. In terms of geological history, this is no more than the blink…

Terra X: The Moon – Our Magical Satellite

with Alexander Gerst

In June 2018, Alexander Gerst flew to the International Space Station ISS where he later became its first German commander. For a three-part “Terra X” documentary, our team accompanied him…

Markus Lanz – Germany!

Discussions about unity and law and home

Globalisation, digitalisation and shifting values are transforming our society. Are our concerns justified or is our fear exaggerated? How do Germans see their country, and more importantly, how do they…

Terra X: Telltale Signs

The History of Forensic Science

It can help bring murderers to justice, exonerate the innocent and identify victims. Forensic science is the most important weapon of modern criminalists. But its roots actually go back a…

Superstructures of the North

Presented by Hubertus Meyer-Burckhardt

What visionary forces are behind a building that has existed for centuries? What stories do the superstructures of the north tell us about the people who built them, the times…

Lesch’s Cosmos – Gender Myths

The Real Differences Between Men and Women

Typical male, typical female – the way we think is still very much influenced by clichés and gender stereotypes. What is fact? What is fiction? Are there typical male and…

New Home, Foreign Country

ZDFzoom about Refugees in Germany

Around one million people came to Germany in 2015/2016. They have determined political debate like no other subject – and continue to do so today. But although they were still…

ZDF History: The Knights

Saviours in Shining Armour

Myths surrounding knights continue to capture our imaginations even today. For over half a century, knights determined the fate of individuals and entire nations in Europe. Their freedom, strength but…

What if… Columbus had never discovered America?

The discovery of America by Christopher Columbus had far-reaching consequences not only for the “New World”. But what would have happened if Columbus hadn’t discovered America? Would we be eating…

What if… the Persians had won the Battle of Marathon?

Athens and Ancient Greece are considered to be the cradle of European civilisation. Much of what we take for granted in Europe today – democracy, mathematical laws, even the rules…

The NSU Trial

Germany’s biggest trial against right-wing extremists comes to an end after more than five years. As the trial verdict is delivered, the documentary shows the different perspectives of the perpetrators…

ZDFzoom: Newspapers in Crisis

How willing are we to pay for journalism

Germany is a country of newspaper readers with well over three hundred daily newspapers on the market. But the business is in a serious crisis. Advertising revenues are plummeting and…

Russia’s Secrets

SURPRISING THINGS ABOUT THE WORLD CUP HOST COUNTRY WITH MATTHIAS FORNOFF

What does Russia look like beyond all common clichés? Matthias Fornoff goes on a journey and shows a completely different and often astonishing Russia. Who knew that in comparison there…

Erotic Perspectives

Winckelmann Changes the World

Winckelmann? Who? It’s 300 years ago that Johann Winckelmann was born in Saxony. With his erotic view of antiquity, he changed the appearance of the world and continues to be…

Markus Lanz – Russia!

Conversations with friendly strangers

Russian-German relations have never been easy and in recent years they have cooled off even further – at least that’s what we’re led to believe. Sanctions and counter-sanctions, propaganda and…

37 Degrees: Alternative Lifestyles

On a houseboat, in a camper van or a tiny house – there are lots of unusual places where you can live. But who leads this kind of lifestyle and…

ZDF History: Mallorca

A German Love Affair

For millions of Germans paradise has a name and a place: Mallorca. Germans have been travelling to the Balearic island for around a hundred years. As early as in the…

Terra X: Setting off into Space

with Alexander Gerst

Alexander Gerst is the first German commander to fly to the International Space Station on June 6th 2018. Terra X accompanied him in the preparations for his mission “Horizons”. The…

Karl Marx

The German Prophet

He once said of himself: I am not a Marxist. And yet Karl Marx achieved world fame as a pioneer of Communism and Socialism – albeit after his death. But…

The Journey of Mankind

presented by Dirk Steffens

Without migration, the world as we know it today would not exist. Because when people migrate, everything migrates with them: their knowledge, culture, religion. But also genes, animals, plants and…

The Magnificent 10

Staffel 3

Curtain up for season 3: The successful documentary series “The Magnificent 10” is back with eight new episodes. This time, we’re picking the scariest stories, the most dramatic childhoods and…

10 Facts About Christianity

Who hasn’t asked themselves where the church actually comes from? Since when there’s been a pope in Rome? Who invented the cross as a symbol? Or why the God of…

Lesch’s Cosmos – Exercise

Universal Medicine with Side Effects

Sport can help us live longer and keep us mentally fit. Yet only around 14% of Germans get enough exercise. With unforeseeable consequences. On the one hand, fitness freaks go…

ZDF History: “Russia’s Crown”

Russia’s tsars ruled over the biggest country in the world for more than 300 years. Their power was absolute, their wealth legendary and their downfall cruel. In the end, they…

The Mobility of Tomorrow

In an age when rockets equipped with cars are sent into space, one thing is for sure: tomorrow’s mobility is full of crazy ideas – even down here on Earth.…

Forbidden Love in India

For Indian couples wanting to marry against their parents’ will, the men of the Love Commando in New Delhi are their last hope. They offer shelter to elopers and have…

The Repair Show

Season 3

“The Fix It Show!” enters its third round! In ten new episodes, the experts concentrate once again on repairing treasured possessions. Grandpa’s old pocket watch that’s stopped ticking. The precious…

Moments in History II

The second season of “Moments of History” offers a historical foray through over 2000 years of German history. It tells of the outstanding turning points, events and battles that shaped…

What if…Islam had conquered Europe?

The battle of Tours and Poitiers in 732 is considered a turning point in the history of Europe. Charles Martel prevented the Islamic advance into Western Europe and for many…

Special People, Special Moments 2017

In an annual review, well-known personalities such as Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke, FDP chairman Christian Lindner, actor Elyas M’ Barek, and less prominent persons have the chance to talk…

Markus Lanz – America unadorned

After having visited the USA in the run-up to the 2016 presidential election, Markus Lanz examines in his second America documentary how people are doing one year after the election.…

On Days Like These!

We love public holidays! And we love history! In “On Days Like These” we bring together both. On 31 October, we celebrate Reformation Day and Halloween. But a lot of…

The Europe Saga

with Christopher Clark

“Europe is not a place, it’s an idea,” concluded philosopher and journalist Bernhard-Henri Lévy. Strictly speaking, Europe is not a continent, it’s an appendage of Asia. In its 2500-year history,…

Either – Or

In this fast-paced quiz show, presenter Ben gives his candidates only two possible answers and no time to ponder. Two contestants compete against each other in a duel and have…

PUR+: THE MYSTERIES OF MIGRATORY BIRDS

Every year, 20 billion birds migrate to southern Europe. But why are so few blackbirds now joining them from Germany? PUR+ presenter Eric Mayer takes to the air with German…

Vote for me!

Six politicians, six voters. One side is canvassing. The other side is voting. At the end, we find out whether or not the politicians were able to win over their…

MARKUS LANZ – CUBA!

Talks With Fidel Castro's Heirs

This journalistic journey takes Markus Lanz first to Havana and then across the rural Viñales to the secret capital of Cuba: Santiago de Cuba. He meets dockworkers, a German-Cuban woman…

The Docu Quiz II

Why are all gondolas in Venice black? How warm is the Earth’s interior? And: What do the three stripes on a sailor’s uniform stand for? These are just some of…

Lesch’s Cosmos – Digital Vote-Getters

Forming opinions on the internet

We are online – constantly and all the time. When election campaigns are taking place, this is potentially dangerous – because online opinion-makers can infiltrate social networks and post information…

Europe and the Refugees

Chronology of a Crisis

On 4 September 2015, Angela Merkel made one of the most momentous decisions in her chancellorship: She opened the German border to refugees from Hungary. In doing so, she changed…

Saint Paul: Dangerous Mission

Petra Gerster on the Tracks of the Apostle

He is considered the superman of antiquity: Saint Paul, the PR man of Christ. Paul the Apostle, the globaliser of Christianity. He turned a small Jewish sect into a world…

Lesch’s Cosmos – The Future of Mobility

The bigger the world population and the higher our standard of living, the more mobile we become. But existing infrastructure is not designed to cope with increased mobility. Roads and…

Oh, Europe

On the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome, we take a light-hearted but critical look at the history of Europe. The hard facts have already been…

The Treasures of Timbuktu

When jihadists seized control of northern Mali in March 2012 and burned more than 4,000 priceless ancient manuscripts from the former university city of Timbuktu, several courageous people risked their…

Blood Trail – Far-Right Terrorism in Germany

Their victims have the wrong religion, skin colour or political opinion: For decades, a network of far-right terrorists has been carrying out murders in Germany. “ZDF-History” pursues its trail of…

Nobody leaves for good

A homage to life

In this show, Markus Lanz pays tribute to numerous celebrities who passed away in 2016. Götz George, Bud Spencer, Muhammad Ali, Roger Willemsen, Umberto Eco, David Bowie, Hans-Dietrich Genscher and…

50 Magic Moments in History

Unique moments, emotional highlights, dramatic defeats, devastating catastrophes. Our past is defined by countless emotions and memories. Whether sport, cinema, science, politics, religion, or natural disasters – in this ranking…

The Empire of the White Monks

Petra Gerster in search of the Cistercians

This documentary is about the spectacular advancement of a religious order to business empire. For the glory of God, medieval Cistercian monks became early capitalist entrepreneurs. For almost four centuries,…

Special People, Special Moments 2016

In his traditional annual review, Markus Lanz takes stock of the most emotional highlights of 2016, presenting special moments experienced by both famous and lesser known heroes. Alongside athletes such…

Frontal21 Documentary – New Year’s Eve in Cologne

Ever since New Year’s Eve 2015, we no longer associate Cologne merely with its Cathedral, carnival, Kölsch beer and conviviality. We inevitably also think of the mass assaults on women…

Markus Lanz – America unadorned

Markus Lanz travels to the USA to capture the mood of the population in the run-up to the presidential election. In personal conversations, he gets to know people from all…

Terra X: Great Peoples II

The second Great Peoples series embarks once again on a journey in time to the origins of Europe. Three new episodes introduce civilisations that have significantly shaped the modern world…

The Magnificent 10

The Greatest Turning Points in German History

We have chosen October 3rd, the day of German unification, as an occasion for a special episode in the documentary series The Magnificent 10. In The Greatest Turning Points in…

Magic Moments In Evolution

With Dirk Steffens

Evolution produced the elephant and the shrew. It invented bird migration, whale songs and hibernation. It concocted the venom of cobras and gave rise to viruses and bacteria. Mammoths and…

Lesch’s Cosmos: The transformation of the oceans

A disaster in the making

The ocean, a place of people’s dreams, is undergoing a process of change. It is our life support system, it provides us with oxygen and food. But how much longer…

Death in a mobile home

How did the NSU terrorists really die?

For years, the NSU killer trio carried out murders in towns all over Germany. When the terrorists were finally identified, Uwe Böhnhardt and Uwe Mundlos killed themselves, apparently aware of…

Giant of the North

The history of the Port of Hamburg

This is the story about one of the largest ports in the world, its people and their ideas. It is a story about merchants and their merchandise, emigrants and their…

The Power of Volcanoes

Seen in relation to the length of a human life, volcanoes erupt very rarely. Only when we look at traces of such past disasters can we anticipate what may lie…

Terra X: The Celts

The enacted sequences and CGI for this BBC/ZDF coproduction were produced by Gruppe 5. Vast battle scenes, the sacking of Rome by the Celts, the conquest of Gaul by Julius…

37 Grad – Taking a Break from the Ratrace

Recharge your batteries, take time out, try something new. Lots of people dream of doing this, but only a few employees actually have the courage to take a sabbatical, or…

The Magnificent 10

Season 2

The Magnificent 10 enters its second round! In traditionally casual and humorous style, the ranking show introduces a series of historically significant personalities, moments and places. We nominate fanatical eccentrics,…

The Repair Show with Eva Brenner

Season 1

What do you do when teddy’s fur’s all fuzzed up, your chest of drawers is rotten or a clock’s stopped ticking? Presenter Eva Brenner and her team fix whatever can…

Martin Luther

Petra Gerster on the trail of the reformer

Petra Gerster embarks on the trail of the epochal figure of Martin Luther. The impact he had on the world church is undisputed. But his work is also surrounded by…

Maybrit Illner Special

The controversial issue of refugees – three elections, one subject

Prior to the regional elections in the German states of Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate und Saxony-Anhalt on March 13, 2016, the refugee problem placed a heavy burden not only on authorities and…

Women and Oceans

The world’s five oceans each has a different colour. They feel different. And smell different. In remote and dangerous parts of the oceans, outstanding women scientists struggle to win a…

Terra X: Rome on the Rhine

“Tear down the walls – kill all Romans.” Many Germanic tribes did not consider rebelling against the Roman rule in the Rhineland region. After all, they benefited from Roman civilisation.…

Moments in history

With 100 short special event and explanatory films, we look back at the era of the Germanic peoples. A historic foray into 2000 years of German history. The films take…

Lesch’s Cosmos – Burnout:

Hysteria or epidemic?

The burnout syndrome seems to have become almost as widespread as an epidemic. Millions of Germans feel drained, exhausted and unmotivated. But what actually is burnout? Officially, the condition is…

Manganese nodules from the ocean floor

Gold rush in the Pacific

It served as a cover story for the most expensive and spectacular CIA operation of all times. It offers hope to people who once had everything – but then lost…

Terra X: Mankind and his Superhuman Powers II

In the second series, more super-talented individuals demonstrate their extraordinary sensory and intellectual capabilities. People with incredible physical abilities fly like birds, ride 20-metre-high waves, live to be as old…

The Docu Quiz

Why, in the Middle Ages, was “alles in Butter” (a German phrase literally meaning “everything in butter”)? A question probably only a specialist can answer. But we ask people on…

Theme evening with Maybrit Illner

"Hospitals in a state of emergency?"

German hospitals are among the best in the world. But how good are they really? The quality of the services they offer differ significantly, patients often feel they are at…

The History of the Southwest

The German states of Baden-Württemberg, Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate still show signs of their turbulent past even today. The TV series “The History of the Southwest” presents their history for the…

Theme evening with Maybrit Illner

"Are we a people?"

On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of unification, ZDF presenter Maybrit Illner and Lutz van der Horst investigate present-day German reality, combining analytical assessments and reviews with a dash…

Lesch’s Cosmos – Bon appétit! The power of manipulation

Who decides what ends up on our plates? Scientists uncover factors that play an important part in what we eat. Apparently, we don’t always recognise the signals our bodies send…

37° – Circus: the final opportunity

Over a period of three years, we accompanied Adam with our camera. Our film documents the impressive personal development of a supposedly untalented boy – from problematic youth to state-certified…

Best Pupil to Bavarian Premier: Franz Josef Strauß

Ever since he served as defence minister, Franz Josef Strauß divided and polarised society in the Federal Republic of Germany. Some saw him as Bavaria’s saviour and protector against aggressive…

Black Sea and white nights

The myth of eastern Europe. What moves people in this part of the world? Matthias Fornoff, his team and ZDF correspondents take a look at moods and developments in the…

Lesch’s Cosmos – Big data

What measuring the world can tell us

The Earth is rebelling: extreme weather events are on the increase, more and more people throughout the world are suffering from the consequences. In future, Germany will also have to…

Terra X: Germany’s cities

with Harald Lesch

We only have to look at a map to see how densely populated Germany is. No country in Europe has so many cities. What makes cities so fascinating – and…

Terra X: A case for Lesch and Steffens

The weather makers

Household names in Germany, Harald Lesch has been explaining the universe and important and trivial aspects of life to us for years, while intrepid explorer Dirk Steffens travels the world…

The Myth of Byzantium

Petra Gerster in search of an empire

It is the story of an empire of superlatives: the legendary city of Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. For one thousand years, the Christian city of Byzantium symbolised…

Terra X: The history of food

Fear of the potato, stuffed swan with flamingo, coffee police and soup in a fur pot: the history of food is rich in anecdotes, the most bizarre stories and fascinating…

The Vietnam War

Faces of a Tragedy

The war in Vietnam was one of the bloodiest and cruellest wars in history. Millions of Vietnamese were killed, most of the victims were civilians. There were indiscriminate murders, bestial…

The Magnificent 10

Season 1

The greatest losers, posers, construction disasters – history told from a very different perspective. The new zdf_neo series takes an unusual look at world history and subjectively ranks all kinds…

The Jesus Mystery – Petra Gerster in search of the Holy Land

This is the story of a man who really did exist: a devout Jew by the name of Jesus of Nazareth. He spent a year working and preaching at the…

Terra X: Mankind and his superhuman powers

From physical superheroes to intellectual geniuses Herbert Nitsch from Austria is the most successful freediver of all times. He has broken 31 world records, and nobody can hold their breath…

Lesch’s Cosmos – Natural gas and the struggle for power:

How secure are our supplies?

In the past, gas was like water – we turned the tap and gas flowed out. It didn’t interest us where it came from. But since the Ukraine crisis, we…

HUNGER! & THIRST!

If we did everything right, no child on planet Earth would have to die of hunger or thirst. Not really. So why does this still happen? This two-part documentary looks…

Terra X: Alexander the Great

He is considered the model of the world ruler: no superlative suffices to adequately describe the Macedonian king’s charismatic personality, his military skills or his vision of a peaceful, multicultural…

Planet Germany

300 million years

This film is an adventurous and awe-inspiring exploration of Germany – today, yesterday and in our very distant past. It describes the dramatic evolution of the country from the Carboniferous…

37° Fight Johnny, fight!

A year-long struggle for survival

This long-term observation tells the remarkable story of a determined young man’s struggle for survival. His personal philosophy: “You have to fight, it’s not over yet”. Johnny is a sportsman…

Terra X: The spark of ingenuity

The history of fireworks

They scared off Mongols, impressed kings and turned a few individuals into heroes: fireworks. Their century-old career began as a weapon of war, but the higher and louder and more…

Terra X: Wild planet

when the Earth runs riot

Earthquakes, volcanoes and storms: since time immemorial, our planet has been at the mercy of these natural phenomena. They destroy, kill, annihilate. But they also give life, they create new…

Terra X: The World of the Knights

The knight: half human, half legend. Minnesang and chivalric novels have left us with a sublime impression of the “noble knight”. But what were knights really like? This series tells…

The Trial of Jesus of Nazareth – Checking facts with Petra Gerster

It is the dramatic end of a unique life. In April, A.D. 30, the itinerant preacher Jesus of Nazareth arrived in Jerusalem. Upon entry into the city, he was immediately…

Terra X: Great Nations

A journey through time to Europe’s roots with comic elements Democracy, laws, science, literature, theatre, the Olympic Games, water supply, road networks, long-distance trade, transoceanic crossings, globalisation – the list…

Friends or Foes?

The Germans and the French

Few relationships between two nations have been so fraught with tension, so complex as that of the French and the Germans. In the last 200 years alone, they have waged…

Women Who Made History

For centuries, women influenced politics only behind the scenes, sometimes they were the driving force behind supposedly powerful rulers. This series of films is about female stereotypes, women’s roles, women’s…

Journey of Discovery

What kind of a world would we live in if there were no discoveries, new knowledge, no curiosity? What kind of world would it be without scientists constantly endeavouring to…

The Legacy of the First Christians

Petra Gerster in search of the early Christian community

Petra Gerster searches for signs of the early Christian community, the zero hour of Christianity. In Turkey, in historical Asia Minor, she visits places where the first communities established themselves…

Terra X: Wild Planet

When the Earth runs riot

At any moment in time, somewhere in the world a volcano can erupt, the Earth can move, or a devastating storm can rage. This often occurs without warning, and we…

Terra X: Superstructures

With Christian Berkel

The second season of the series ‘Superstructures’ gives an overview of impressive buildings from history: from the pyramids in Egypt to Stonehenge and Asian temples. All three episodes are presented…

Konrad Adenauer

“Why should I care about what I said yesterday” Konrad Adenauer, first Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany. Born January 5th, 1876, expelled by the Nazis and later on…

Frederick the Great

Holy War

At the latest since September 11th, 2001, the armed struggle in the name of Allah has become a serious threat to the West, where many peoples share the view that…

The Germans II

The second season of the series “Die Deutschen” (The Germans) again covers a thousand years of German history, starting with Charlemagne in the early Middle Ages and reaching to the…

Universe of the Oceans with Frank Schätzing

A journey through past, present, and future of the oceans. How did life in the oceans originate billions of years ago? And how could the immense diversity of animals and…

Terra X: America before Columbus

This is the tale of two continents, before they knew each other. Europe is small and crowded, and lacks resources, while America is vast – people have space, and live…

Cape of Storm

Land of Hope

More than 500 years ago, the first Europeans entered the southern tip of the African continent. They found a Garden of Eden and called it the “Cape of Good Hope“.…

Terra X: Superstructures with Sebastian Koch

They shape the face of cities and landscapes and stand for genius, madness, and pride of their owners. They bear the traces of history and have written history. Designs that…

In excellent constitution – 60 Years of Basic Law

60 years ago, on May 23rd, 1949, the fundamental law of the new Federal Republic of Germany was signed in a solemn ceremony of the Parliamentary Council in Bonn. For…

Arminius – Enemy of Rome

Arminius – born as the son of a Cheruscan, abducted as a pawn of the Romans, and raised as a soldier, returns to subdued Germania under Emperor Augustus. He makes…

The Germans

The primetime ten-part documentary about German history spans the period from Otto the Great in the 10th century to the proclamation of the First Republic by Philipp Scheidemann in November…

The Gate of the Dragon

Chinas langer Aufbruch

The century of China has begun. But how has this grand empire called Middle Kingdom become what it is today? The Gate of the Dragon – the Long Rise of…

China’s Forbidden City

In the heart of Beijing lies the largest palace in the world, the Forbidden City. For 500 years, it is the home of the almighty Emperors of China, who live…

Supercomet – After the Impact

65 Million years ago, an asteroid hit planet Earth, destroying 75 percent of all species and ending the reign of the dinosaurs. Such an event can occur at any time…

The Jews – A People’s History

The documentary series „The Jews – A People’s History” undertakes a quest into more than 3,000 years of Jewish history: tracking back to the beginning of Jews as an independent…

The Germanic Tribes

“Through its forests terrible, through its marshes horrible”, thus characterizes the Roman historian Tacitus “Germania”, the area incognita beyond the Rhine. The natives there, the Germanic Tribes, were not in…

China’s Great Wall

“You’re not a real man if you’ve not got to the Great Wall“, Great Chairman Mao once said. For more than 2,000 years, the Emperors of China tried to protect…

Update 2057 – The World in 50 Years

Robots can reproduce while human beings clamor to be cloned. Overhead automobiles whirr through the air. It’s the stuff of far-out science fiction romance novels, but low and behold, tomorrow…

Secrets of the First Emperor

Das Geheimnis des Ersten Kaisers

He conquered “All under Heaven” and gave it his name: Qin Shihuangdi, the First Emperor of China. His most splendid legacy is the Terracotta Army. The film shows the history…

Dragons of the Sea: China’s Forgotten Fleet

In 1405, a gigantic fleet weighs its anchors in the Nanjing harbour. 200 ships and a crew of 27,000 men, under the supreme command of imperial Admiral Zheng He, embark…

Wild East

The Wartburg Castle and the Spree Forest! Two spectacular cultural landscapes in Eastern Germany are shown from their most beautiful and mysterious side: first class natural history footage combined with…

Ways out of Darkness

Europe in the Middle Ages

This four part documentary sheds new light on the ”dark age” of European history. It tells of the scientific, technical and cultural achievements of the Middle Ages which paved the…

Storm over Europe

The Wandering Tribes

This documentary deals with the mass migration of Germanic tribes at the very beginning of European history, while Ancient Rome raced towards inevitable collapse and a new political centre developed…

Dead Men Telling Tales

The History of Forensic Medicine

They are the victims’ advocates, deliver the guilty to justice and relieve the burden of accusation from the innocent. For 700 years, forensic medical experts, armed with bone saw and…

Fabulous Animals

Wildlife Meets Myth

Unicorns, dragons, giant octopuses – tales of fabulous, magical animals are part of the cultural heritage of peoples throughout the world. But is it all just legend? Many of these…

The American Journey of Alexander von Humboldt

In 1799, Alexander von Humboldt and the French physician and botanist Aimé Bonpland set out on a research expedition through Central and South America. The first Europeans to journey into…

Dolphin Stories

Mysteries and Legends

Dolphins are known to be highly developed creatures from whom we can learn a lot. Throughout history, human beings have tried to unlock the secrets of the dolphins’ superior intelligence.…