Two young national players want more for German handball. More speed, technique, responsibility—and titles: Julian Köster and Juri Knorr represent a new generation of handball players. Shortly before the 2026…
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How far are you willing to go to achieve your Olympic dream? Lisa Buckwitz has pushed her body to the limit her entire life. All the way to an Olympic…
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‘Vui’ means happy, jolly, in a good mood. It’s a Vietnamese word that Mai Thi Nguyen-Kim uses whenever things are really hopping. To explore this attitude to life, she sets…
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Germany loves biathlon – and you’ve never been this close to the stars. The documentary series accompanies them through a dramatic year and shows tears, pressure, and emotional moments from…
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Can we still afford Germany? Christian Sievers discusses this live in Berlin with leading politicians from all parties represented in the Bundestag. There is less and less money in people’s…
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The effects of climate change are omnipresent. Extreme weather events such as heavy rain, storm surges, and flooding threaten coastlines, inland areas, and agricultural land worldwide. Visionaries who tirelessly search…
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In this latest documentary on the topic of fleeing, Markus Lanz embarks on a journey to explore the complex reality of migration. He wants to understand what it means to…
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Ancient Greece: for many, the cradle of Western civilization. Long before the birth of Christ, people here were setting new standards. But behind the shining façade lurked dark shadows. This…
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If there is one historical place in Berlin or Potsdam where you can escape from everyday life, then it is Sanssouci Palace and its gardens. Anyone entering the ensemble can…
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Two important statesmen meet to give the history of their two countries a decisive turn. For centuries, Germany and France have tried to dominate each other and shed a lot…
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For many people, holidays are an occasion to reflect on existential questions of life. In “Lesch meets Schwartz,” Harald Lesch and Thomas Schwartz invite people to consider theological and existential…
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A disparaging look, an insult or the question of “actual origin”: racism has many faces. People of color experience this as church employees outside, but also within their own institution.…
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In the fifth season of the “Fascination of Water” series, marine biologist and research diver Uli Kunz explores two habitats that could hardly be more different: In the episode about…
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Retro fever has broken out in NRW’s major cities: more and more people are out and about on wheels – across all lifestyles and age groups. Skating was long regarded…
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Mats Hummels moves to AS Roma in 2024. For the 36-year-old world champion, it is the first foreign station of his career – and his last as a professional footballer.…
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Our medicine is tailored to a standard human model without differentiating between gender, age and social factors. But who actually fits this standard model? Do we need a new medicine?…
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Peace, freedom and justice – who doesn’t dream of them? They are the foundation on which the prosperity and democracy of the Western world rest. But these values are in…
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What do we experience in the nine months before we are born, and what happens in our brain when we die? For our Terra X two-parter ‘Our Life’, Dr Mai…
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In the second part of the ARD series, the journey with meteorologist Sven Plöger takes us to Greenland: How is climate change altering the Arctic – and what impact will…
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How is Germany doing? And: what’s next for Germany? Four weeks before the Bundestag elections, we want to know: What issues are people in the country concerned about, what are…
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The magnificent seventh season of the Magnificent 10 is in the starting blocks! Hannes Jaenicke is already hoofing it, ready to comment on the most spectacular spurts, crassest trips and…
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Religions shape the human experience through shared rituals, traditions and beliefs that provide community, comfort and support. At the same time, they can trigger conflicts if they are misinterpreted or…
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The world’s population will increase to around 10 billion people by 2050. To feed everyone, we need the earth’s food resources, but these are already at their limit. Climate change…
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People have been asking for decades whether he spoke plainly or remained silent. Did Pius XII condemn Hitler’s doctrine of blood and race? Did he denounce the Final Solution to…
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In the USA, a new president or, for the first time, a female president will be elected in a few weeks’ time. A botched presidential debate, two assassination attempts on…
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Cologne Cathedral: a landmark, a World Heritage Site, a building of superlatives – and not just because it took over 600 years to complete. It has been captivating people since…
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In the ocean, the tuna is one of the top predators. The bluefin tuna – the king of tuna, so to speak – can grow to four meters and weigh…
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Nikola Tesla? The car manufacturer? No! Nikola Tesla: the magician of electricity! In this Terra X documentary, we tell the story of a unique inventor who moved from Europe to…
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July 7, 1974: The FIFA World Cup final. In Munich’s Olympic Stadium, the West German team led by Franz Beckenbauer faces top favorite the Netherlands – and wins sensationally 2:1.…
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After three disastrous tournaments and the fall from grace in Qatar, the German national team is at rock bottom. The European Championships will soon begin in their own country. The…
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2024 we ask: “How’s it going, Europe?”. The leading German candidates from the European political groups will be answering questions from the public and our presenters Dunja Hayali and Mitri…
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For many people, holidays are an occasion to reflect on existential questions of life. In “Lesch meets Schwartz,” Harald Lesch and Thomas Schwartz invite people to consider theological and existential…
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“My playground was a place of mass murder,” says Dany Dattel during a visit to Auschwitz. His life was an odyssey through persecution, death marches, adventurous rescues in the Czech…
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What were the largest mail-order companies in West Germany called? What is meant by the “Peaceful Revolution” in Germany? What is the proportion of people with a history of immigration…
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What is the state of social justice in the country, what motivates people, what do they expect from politics? Christian Sievers wants to discuss these questions live in Berlin –…
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2023 was the warmest year since records began. One cause is suspected to be almost 10,000 kilometers away in the eastern Pacific. There, the weather phenomenon El Niño is disrupting…
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Great fun with lots of knowledge: The “Terra X Show Kids” is all about exciting topics from nature and history. Host Jess Schöne welcomes two young teams to the studio…
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The whole world of knowledge in one quiz: since 2019, Johannes B. Kerner has been presenting “The great Terra X-Show”. He is supported by Terra X experts such as Harald…
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The conflict between the generations defines society. The church is no exception and a cross-generational dialog is being sought. The film explores different worlds of life and faith, in which…
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In this two-parter, marine biologist Uli Kunz gets to the bottom of two of the most fascinating aquatic phenomena – literally: In the episode about river deltas, he dives for…
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“You don’t talk about money!” Erwin Pelzig radically ignores this principle that applies in this country and deals with nothing but money – “damn money” – three times in the…
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Boy or girl? An unavoidable question when buying books. On the shelves of German-language bookshops, pink covers with fairies and horses stand in stark contrast to blue covers with pirates…
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Ukraine has been fighting for its survival since February 24, 2022. Fear, anxiety, despair and hardship define people’s everyday lives, while at the same time they show tremendous courage and…
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Luxury lodge, lifesaver, power center, beacon of hope: trains like the Rheingold, the Lounge Car 10205, the Balkan special trains, but also the Rhine-Ruhr Express or Yuxinou, all of which…
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On the Auyan-Tepui, one of the legendary table mountains of South America, an international research team penetrates an unknown, mystical underworld: In a labyrinthine cave system, it encounters peculiar rock…
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The whole world of knowledge in one quiz: since 2019, Johannes B. Kerner has been presenting “The great Terra X-Show”. He is supported by Terra X experts such as Harald…
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The 80s – years full of contrasts and contradictions. Hardly any decade polarizes as much as this one. For some, it was a fashionable fall from grace with shoulder pads…
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Our documentary for ARTE launches them once again: the dream ships of socialism. For almost 30 years, the GDR leadership spared neither expense nor effort to turn its vision of…
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Germany is a country rich in water – actually. It is estimated that there are 176 billion m3 of water reserves that are renewed and can be used every year.…
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After Hitler’s rise to power, the sunny Balearic island of Mallorca became the refuge of many German emigrants. Not only in Palma, but also in the small fishing village of…
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With marine biologist and research diver Uli Kunz, we explore the warm and cold coasts of our planet in this two-parter – and show the incredible diversity of life: We…
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70 years after the GDR popular uprising of June 17, 1953, and 175 years after the German Revolution of 1848, the documentary traces Germany’s long road to democracy. ZDF presenter…
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For many people, holidays are an occasion to reflect on existential questions of life. In “Lesch meets Schwartz,” Harald Lesch and Thomas Schwartz invite people to consider theological and existential…
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It’s time to celebrate, because the Magnificent 10 is taking off with its sixth season! To mark this joyous occasion, Hannes Jaenicke comments on the fiercest parties and the wildest…
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“It is more blessed to give than to receive” – it says in the Bible. But what exactly is meant by that? What does “giving” actually feel like? Three people…
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Markus Lanz travels to Moldova, Transnistria, Gagauzia and southern Ukraine to talk to people about their lives between real and perceived borders. How does the Ukraine war affect the border…
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Although IT experts have been trying to secure our systems for decades, cyberattacks now cause three times more damage than natural disasters. Governments, businesses, critical infrastructure – no one is…
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“Europe in…” is the 3rd season of the Terra X history format with Mirko Drotschmann. In the new episodes, the science journalist broadens the view from Germany to Europe –…
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Great fun with lots of knowledge: The “Terra X Show Kids” is all about exciting topics from nature and history. Host Jess Schöne welcomes two young teams to the studio…
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On December 31, 2021, the Gundremmingen NPP, Germany’s first and most powerful nuclear power plant, went off the grid. A huge identity power plant for the inhabitants inside of the…
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The construction sector is booming. Forecasts predict that the area built on today will double by 2060. But the question is: What will be used to build the future of…
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It is the most complex structure known to us in the entire universe: our brain. A grey mass that houses an impenetrable network of around 86 billion nerve cells and…
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In the fictional series “The Swarm,” the ocean is a powerful, often deadly adversary, and science is the key to saving humanity from extinction. But how realistic are the threats…
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The war in Ukraine made it inevitable to turn away from cheap Russian gas. Social support is growing for the German government’s plan to expand renewable energy sources. New ideas…
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We live in a digital world. We google, email and text, and with every “bing,” our brains are rewarded with dopamine. We need to be online – always and everywhere.…
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Astronaut and geophysicist Alexander Gerst spent almost a year on the ISS space station. Now he is setting off with us on new research adventures – to the extreme regions…
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You feel powerless, unfree or not loved? You are not alone! Frank-Markus Barwasser alias Erwin Pelzig is done with these feelings. In the 2nd season of “With Pelzig on the…
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Great fun with lots of knowledge: The “Terra X Show Kids” is all about exciting topics from nature and history. Host Jess Schöne welcomes two young teams to the studio…
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Not since a meteorite wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago has there been such a rapid extinction of species on Earth as there is today. What does this…
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5000 years ago, one of the largest and most powerful empires in history emerged along the Nile: Ancient Egypt. Temples, excavations and writings bear witness to the achievements of an…
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For many people, holidays are an occasion to reflect on existential questions of life. In “Lesch meets Schwartz,” Harald Lesch and Thomas Schwartz invite people to consider theological and existential…
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Covid-19, the one crisis that almost took our breath away, is now joined by another. Putin’s war in Ukraine. Both crises show the West to be vulnerable, and people’s lifestyles…
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Are morals innate or do we learn them? Where do the values and norms of our society come from? Collien Ulmen-Fernandes sets out in search of answers. She talks to…
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The construction sector is growing at an unprecedented pace, with forecasts predicting that 230 billion square meters of new buildings will be constructed worldwide by 2060. The problem is that…
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The world-famous gold mask of Tutankhamun is the most famous archaeological find, an icon of Egypt. The pharaoh’s sad eyes look at us over the millennia. What have researchers been…
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The whole world of knowledge in one quiz: since 2019, Johannes B. Kerner has been presenting “The great Terra X-Show”. He is supported by Terra X experts such as Harald…
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In the Indian state of Assam, another animal species – the greater adjutant, also known as the hargila – is threatened with extinction. The consequences for humans and the environment…
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Together with marine biologist Uli Kunz we explore the North and Baltic Sea and show that these supposedly well-known seas have a lot of surprises in store. In the east…
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The election of Joe Biden as the new US president gave many Americans new hope for a better life. But one year after his inauguration, the disillusionment is great. The…
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You’re fed up, you’ve had enough, you’re at the end? The Covid-19 crisis, democracy, life – everything sucks and played a dirty trick on you? Then here it is: first…
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January 18, 1871, Versailles. 150 years ago, the first German emperor is proclaimed in the Hall of Mirrors at the palace. But what was going on behind the scenes? The…
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For some, he is the murderer of the Roman Republic. There he was called Octavian. With the honorary name Augustus, he is the founder of the Roman Empire and celebrated…
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Let’s imagine a future where we build artificial brains that expand our capabilities and make us more powerful than ever before. A superintelligence that is smarter than us. Artificial intelligence…
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In 321, a Roman decree mentions a Jewish community on German territory for the first time. The commemorative year 2021 is an occasion to turn our attention to German Jews…
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“Green for all”. Konrad Adenauer not only demanded it, he created it in Cologne as mayor with the „Grüngürtel“, the green belt. And in Rhöndorf, the passionate gardener dug, planted…
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It has been ten years since Libya’s dictator Muammar al-Gaddafi was killed. Since then, the country has been torn apart by civil war: a decade of turmoil and violence –…
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Chemistry is a fantastic magic show. And it is the subject and passion of Dr. Mai-Thi Nguyen-Kim. She takes the Terra X viewers on a journey through the history of…
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What comes after season 4? Of course: Season 5! The glorious 10 are back! In 10 brand new episodes, commented by Hannes Jaenicke, we travel through awesome ages, present the…
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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:…
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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…
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Great fun with lots of knowledge: The “Terra X Show Kids” is all about exciting topics from nature and history. Host Jess Schöne welcomes two young teams to the studio…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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The whole world of knowledge in one quiz: since 2019, Johannes B. Kerner has been presenting “The great Terra X-Show”. He is supported by Terra X experts such as Harald…
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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…
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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…
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One year ago, Germany went into its first Corona shutdown. Since then, the country has been in a grueling situation between lockdown and easing. How has this exceptional situation affected…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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“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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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„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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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The whole world of knowledge in one quiz: since 2019, Johannes B. Kerner has been presenting “The great Terra X-Show”. He is supported by Terra X experts such as Harald…
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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…
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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…
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“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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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How do I get compact, entertaining and up-to-date information on major historical topics? In a new Terra X series, we get to the bottom of things together with the well-known…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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The whole world of knowledge in one quiz: since 2019, Johannes B. Kerner has been presenting “The great Terra X-Show”. He is supported by Terra X experts such as Harald…
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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…
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Happy Birthday ZDFneo! „The Magnificent 10″ celebrate the tenth anniversary of their home station with a special episode. And how could it be otherwise: This time, our ranking places are…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Alexander Gerst is the first German commander of the International Space Station ISS. The film accompanies the two-year training and the exciting months of the “Horizons” mission. The current experiments…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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The first steps towards the dance floor are the hardest. And yet, after a short time, two people who rely on walking aids in their everyday lives glide across the…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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.…
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“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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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.…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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“The Fix It Show” enters its second round! In ten new episodes, the experts concentrate once again on repairing treasured possessions that have passed their prime. Grandpa’s old pocket watch…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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The NSU trio of killers murdered across Germany for years – when the terrorists were finally caught, Uwe Böhnhardt and Uwe Mundlos are said to have committed suicide in view…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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“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.…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
More 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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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“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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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“.…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Beijing, June 1900: The “Fist Fighters for Justice and Harmony”, called “Boxers” by the Europeans, have locked up more than 3000 foreigners and Chinese Christians in the legation district. The…
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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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“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…
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“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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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.…
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Half of Spain is unknown. In many places, time seems to stand still here. Evidence of civilization is hidden or lies dormant. Nature, on the other hand, is reclaiming its…
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The sixth season of “Fascination of Water” spans a wide arc from the coasts of the Mediterranean to the coral reefs in the Pacific. Everywhere, land and sea are inextricably…
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In 2026, the Wuppertal Suspension Railway will celebrate its 125th anniversary. Reason enough to honor it with a film. We climb aboard and embark on a fascinating journey through time:…
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