All Episodes 2008 - 2023

TV-PG

In the Chinese city of Chongqing, the Shibati district is the only neighborhood to have survived the government’s drive to demolish and rebuild.

Hermann Parzinger takes on the position of President of the Foundation of Prussian Cultural Heritage on March 1st 2008. On February 24, 2008 DW-TV will present a portrait of the culture manager. The Foundation of Prussian Cultural Heritage was established fifty years ago by the German Federal Government and the 16 German states. It is Europe's largest cultural complex with 2000 members of staff and encompasses a total of 17 museums, libraries and research institutes.

World War Two started on 1 September 1939 when German forces unleashed an attack on the Polish garrison on the Westernplatte peninsular on the territory of what was then the Free German City of Danzig, later Gdansk. But that historical wisdom is not strictly true. The first shots opening Nazi Germany`s war were fired just a few minutes earlier when German Luftwaffe planes launched a ferocious attack on Wieluń, a Polish town which had no military or industrial targets of any significance. This horrific bombing forms the dramatic framework of the film documentary, told from both angles, with German Wehrmacht soldiers elaborating on their first wartime experiences and Poles explaining how, as civilians, they were subjected to aerial attacks, how they fled the fighting, how they were forced to leave their homes: personal memories 70 years after the opening of World War II hostilities. For the first time, in a joint German-Polish project, film makers from both countries describe the events that marked the beginning of Hitler's assault on Poland.

World War Two started on 1 September 1939 when German forces unleashed an attack on the Polish garrison on the Westernplatte peninsular on the territory of what was then the Free German City of Danzig, later Gdansk. But that historical wisdom is not strictly true. The first shots opening Nazi Germany`s war were fired just a few minutes earlier when German Luftwaffe planes launched a ferocious attack on Wieluń, a Polish town which had no military or industrial targets of any significance. This horrific bombing forms the dramatic framework of the film documentary, told from both angles, with German Wehrmacht soldiers elaborating on their first wartime experiences and Poles explaining how, as civilians, they were subjected to aerial attacks, how they fled the fighting, how they were forced to leave their homes: personal memories 70 years after the opening of World War II hostilities. For the first time, in a joint German-Polish project, film makers from both countries describe the events that marked the beginning of Hitler's assault on Poland.

When Saruul Fischer came to East Germany from Mongolia at the age of eleven, she could not have known how important her homeland would be to her in the future.

People with disabilities in Lebanon have become an afterthought in a country scarred by war. Each year, European volunteers form friendships with the members and reignite their zest for life.

Darul Uloom Haqqania – Pakistan's oldest and best-known Islamic religious seminary, or madrassa. It's been preaching a hard-line interpretation of Islam since 1947.

“Animals behind bars:” That’s usually the first thought when you go to a zoo. Time for an image change. So do zoos need to change to meet future challenges? And perhaps they can even help to protect endangered species?

A Short History of German Reunification: After the fall of the wall, tensions were high as negotiations about Germany’s future began between France, the Soviet Union, the US and Britain. But were Helmut Kohl’s shrewd tactics the real catalyst in the reunification? What many now take for granted was more exciting than any thriller when it was actually happening. The reunification of Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall was certainly not a foregone conclusion. Barely 327 days lay between the Wall’s fall and reunification on October 3, 1990. The GDR had imploded and Chancellor Helmut Kohl took advantage of the situation with a 10-point program. The two German states negotiated the merger of East and West Germany with the four victorious powers of World War II - The United States, the Soviet Union, Great Britain and France. The result was the so-called "2 + 4 Treaty” that regulated the whole reunification. Our report looks at the most important events. Prominent politicians such as former Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher and US chief negotiator Robert Zoellick talk about the events they experienced and helped to shape at first hand. Renowned international historians and journalists also give a multifaceted picture of a tumultuous time. And documents from British archives show how great the fear of a resurgent Germany really was.

Marlyn Capio was forced into prostitution as a child. Now she works for a child protection agency, trying to rescue young girls who work in the red light district. About 100,000 minors a year are forced into the sex trade in the Philippines.

Night-time satellite images of the Earth show a sea of light that stretches across populated areas around the globe. The electric light-bulb has come to represent economic prosperity and the advance of modern technology. But too much light can have a negative effect on the health of both humans and animals -- and scientists are warning of the dangers of light pollution. At night, city lights kill large numbers of insects, confuse migrating birds, and rob many people of a good night's sleep. Humans have developed their day / night cycle over millions of years -- a cycle that dictates that people work during the day, and relax in the evening. Now, researchers are working on next-generation lighting systems that are more sustainable and work more efficiently.

The Antonov An-225 is the world's biggest airplane. A colossus - developed in the Soviet Union to carry the Buran Space shuttle. Today it carries other giants such a turbine from Prague, Czech Republic, to a refinery in Perth, Australia ASAP. On board: the crew of Ukrainian Antonov Airlines.

Who is the talented fraudster, smuggling counterfeit antiques onto the art market? Experts have named him the “Spanish master” but his exact whereabouts are still unknown. An investigative journey into the wheelings and dealings of the art world.

9/11 – hardly any other date signifies an event and its global consequences to such an extent. Fifteen years later, Americans are still traumatized by the attacks and society deeply divided.

An estimated 30 million Russians work off the books. Known as "Garazhniki," they make furniture, fix cars and do other jobs. Now, after two years of recession, President Putin hopes to legalize them and collect taxes. But many think they'll resist.

Retired actress Helena Norowicz has embarked on a second career: she's become a fashion model at the age of 82. She's booked for photo shoots and even struts the catwalk.

The first Soviet space mission in 1957 launched a race into the future. In film and comics as well, science fiction and outer space became all the rage. The Soviet satellite "Sputnik" ushered in a new, futuristic age. For the next ten years, the future and its favorite setting, space, were more in vogue than ever before. This documentary takes a wry look into the fantastic future of the 1960s - one that is already deep in the past. On October 5, 1957, a radio signal sent America into profound shock and enthralled the world. The persistent beep of the Russian satellite "Sputnik 1" spread like wildfire around the globe. The Soviet Union had put the first ever man-made satellite into orbit around the Earth. The space age had begun. In the coming decade, the future - and its favorite setting, space - was in fashion like never before. Pneumatic space heroines appeared in science fiction comics and films and futuristic sounds conquered the dance floors. In September 1966, the future also began on German television: The launch of the seven-part science fiction series "Space Patrol - The Fantastic Adventures of the Orion Spaceship" made TV history. In short, the future had begun and was promising great things. Our documentary looks back at this utopian time between "Sputnik" and the US moon landing. How did human beings see the future - our present - half a century ago? And how did culture reflect this boundless enthusiasm for technology and optimistic belief in the future?

Traditionally our sense of smell has been downplayed as relatively unimportant, especially in the modern age. Research shows, however, that the human body's biggest gene family, making up around 1percent of our DNA, is dedicated to olfactory processes. We can in theory distinguish between over a trillion different odours. Why the complexity, and to what purpose?. Researchers call smelling our most primeval sense. The part of the brain where odours are decoded is directly connected to the limbic system the source of memories and emotions. Our immediate reaction to a smell is as such a feeling. All humans have an individual sense of smell; there are no two identical 'noses'. What we all share, however, is a feeling of revulsion to unpleasant smells a sensation unique to homo sapiens. It turns out that the triggers are not pre-programmed in our DNA. Every society has its own cultural norms that define our perception of smells but there are also certain odours that result in identical signals being sent. Somewhat surprisingly, our olfactory receptors are located not only in the nose but all over the body: in the liver, the kidneys, and with men in the testicles. Where do our preferences and aversions for smells come from? And in which other parts of the body do odour molecules play an important role? This documentary presents the latest insights into our sense of smell.

Robots and machines could soon replace humans in the workplace as artificial intelligence improves. Imagine having colleagues controlled by computers. Society is facing radical changes. Industry 4.0 - the fourth industrial revolution - is the current trend of automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies. Artificial intelligence is constantly gaining ground. The digital era and the Internet are not just changing industrial production processes. An increasing number of jobless people are facing stiff competition from intelligent machines. One software company owner in the US even says the machines are better designed to do most jobs than people are. And that isn’t just restricted to the car industry. Workers cost money and employers are out to minimize labor costs. What will that mean? Soon there could be more intelligent robots and machines than humans and they could soon be replacing people in the workplace. Industry 4.0 poses a great challenge to the world as we know it and millions of people could lose out in the process. Find out more in 'Robitics - Impacting the Workplace'.

As artificial intelligence improves, machines could soon replace us in the workplace. Are robots set to take over? Society is facing radical changes. Industry 4.0 - the fourth industrial revolution - is the current trend of automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies. Artificial intelligence is constantly gaining ground. The digital era and the Internet are not just changing industrial production processes. An increasing number of jobless people are facing stiff competition from intelligent machines. One software company owner in the US even says the machines are better designed to do most jobs than people are. And that isn’t just restricted to the car industry. Workers cost money and employers are out to minimize labor costs. What will that mean? Soon there could be more intelligent robots and machines than humans and they could soon be replacing people in the workplace. Industry 4.0 poses a great challenge to the world as we know it and millions of people could lose out in the process. Find out more in 'Robitics - Impacting the Workplace'.

Between 1998 and 2011, a German neo-Nazi terrorist group murdered ten people. They called themselves the National Socialist Underground or NSU, carried out robberies to finance their terrorist cell, and planted bombs to spread terror in Germany.

A fence divides Muslim and Croat pupils at a school in the Bosnian town of Travnik. Here and elsewhere in Bosnia contact between different ethnic groups is discouraged, even though the war ended over 20 years ago.

Cyborgs are no longer just characters in science fiction movies. They live among us. Technology has developed to make life easier, but is there a bad side? Some humans have implanted devices in their skull to sharpen their senses and become cyborgs. Others have planted magnets in their fingers, or chips underneath their skin to open doors. Gimmickry - or are these the pioneers of some brave new world? Some people are now taking the next step: Cyborgs or human machines that integrate technology into their bodies to enhance their abilities and expand their senses. Who are these people? And what drives them? Oliver Waack-Jürgensen from Berlin is one of them. He suffers from a bone disease and has two artificial knees and an artificial hip and will be getting another new hip soon: So far, so normal. But the new hip will be able to do more than the old conventional one: recharge a mobile phone wirelessly from its kinetic energy, for example, or measure and analyze body data and save and transfer it via Bluetooth. It may even host a free router: WLAN from the hip. Neil Harbisson is already one step ahead. The Briton is the world's first officially recognized cyborg. He is color-blind and can only perceive the world in shades of grey. However, the "Eyeborg,” an antenna in his head, allows him to hear colors. A sensor scans the colors in Neil's field of vision and then a chip in his head converts them into sounds. Each color has its own individual sound in his ears. Not only can Neil cannot hear the spectrum of colors visible to us, he can also perceive ultraviolet and infrared waves. Neil Harbisson is a co-founder of the Cyborg Foundation - an international organization that helps people become cyborgs. But at what price - and where are the limits? Are we losing our humanity? What would happen to society if some people had superhuman abilities? Whatever the answer, technology is already getting closer to us than we could ever have imagined - in some cases even under our

Artist Gustav Klimt was a revolutionary, an overrated decorative painter and pornographer. Today his artworks are some of the most expensive of all time. Gustav Klimt was one of the most important Art Nouveau painters and enfant terrible of Austria’s conservative middle class. His opulent portraits of women caused a stir in the early 1900s. As co-founder of the Vienna Secession, he helped revolutionize art history. Opposing the historicism of contemporary art, he employed a frivolous sensuality that many of his contemporaries found highly uncomfortable. At the dawn of the twentieth century, Vienna, more than any other European city, embodied the spirit of a cozy society in which art was to be innocent and adapted to the prevailing conditions of the imperial age. Like a number of other well-known artists that did not conform, Klimt’s art was subjected to scorn and hostility and it took almost half a century after his death for his greatness to be finally recognized in France and Germany. His themes reflect the great existential questions of life and death, joy, fear and birth. And he repeatedly returns to an exploration of the myth of woman in his ornamental works.

The New Silk Road is one of the most ambitious undertakings by far to be put forward by the Chinese president Xi Jinping. The goal of this gigantic project is the construction of a transport link between Asia and Europe: 10,000 kilometers of road, a railway freight line and a shipping route are to run from western China to Europe via Kazakhstan, the Urals and Moscow. Since the start of the 21st century China has become the most important export nation on the global stage. But in light of increasing tensions in the South China Sea and the threat from North Korea, it’s becoming more and more important for China to open up alternative trade routes. As a result the country has turned its gaze westward, to central Asia with its many resources and to Europe, which is still its most important trading partner. The New Silk Road is intended to connect China to Europe via Kazakhstan and Russia over a distance of 10,000 kilometers. The construction of the road with the parallel railway line has already begun in Chongqing, a megacity in the country’s interior that’s just one example of the economic boom of the past thirty years. The products made here will, it’s hoped, reach European customers effortlessly in a few years’ time. But it’s not just China’s exporters who hope to benefit from this infrastructure project. Rural regions in the west of the country should also see a boost. There’s the province of Xinjiang for example, which has seen little of the economic growth of recent years. But China’s ambitions go beyond its national borders. The planned New Silk Road runs past rich oil fields as it goes through Kazakhstan. The extraction of oil is to be ramped up, thereby securing China’s growing need for energy. By extending the route all the way to the edge of the Urals, Beijing can get all the way to Russia. But it’s not certain whether the former big brother will welcome the expansion of China’s sphere of influence all the way to central Asia and Europ

For years, the Arctic ice has been retreating, releasing valuable raw materials. The states adjoining the Artic Ocean are interested in the resources and the race to obtain them is on. But the consequences for humans and animals there are dramatic. DocFilm The fight for the Arctic For years, the Arctic ice has been retreating, releasing valuable raw materials. The states adjoining the Artic Ocean are interested in the resources and the race to obtain them is on. But the consequences for humans and animals there are dramatic. Watch video 26:25 The fight for the Arctic’s resources is coming to a head. The states adjoining the Arctic Ocean are positioning themselves, scouting out the land and securing the best sites for getting their hands on the raw materials. Russia already has an ultra-modern nuclear-powered icebreaker in operation. The Norwegian company Statoil is conducting test drilling with its cutting-edge rig "Songa Enabler,” which was designed especially for the Arctic; it’s the most northerly drilling operation in the world. Norway hopes to discover vast natural wealth in the Arctic. But the borders in the Arctic have not yet been set, and a war over resources is always a distinct danger. For the animals of the Arctic, including seals and polar bears, the melting sea ice is also having drastic consequences. They’re losing their habitats and their search for food is becoming increasingly difficult. In addition, the rubbish that is piling up in the Arctic only degrades very slowly and it’s poisoning the animals. Seabirds and whales are dying because they can’t digest the plastic in their stomachs. International fishing fleets are the main culprits when it comes to rubbish in the Arctic. The ice used to be a natural barrier. Now the trawlers can penetrate further and further into the icy ocean and, as a result, catch greater quantities of fish. Overfishing is almost inevitable. Furthermore the huge trawl nets used by the industrial fis

Science fiction or reality? Researchers are trying to create an artificial brain that emulates the human mind. What is the future of mind uploading and AI? We are all familiar with science fiction films featuring mad researchers who breathe life into machines. Is this futuristic vision already becoming reality? This documentary sheds light on a massive research effort of neuroscientists and roboticists. The Space Race was yesterday. The big challenge today is the creation of an artificial brain. From simple molecules to complex networks of neurons - the cartography of the human brain has begun. The goal pursued by scientists and experts around the world is to emulate the human brain. But the consortiums of researchers are as varied as their motivations. Most scientists are primarily concerned with understanding the brain, one of the last great mysteries, and using the new insights to develop advanced treatments for neurological diseases. But among those involved in the race for the artificial brain are transhumanists looking for ways of making people immortal through technology. Internet giant Google wants to know how artificial intelligence interacts with the world and learns autonomously. Can the human brain be replaced by a machine? It would have to take on the function of 100 billion neurons interconnected in a highly complex network. And suppose the search for an artificial brain were to succeed - would it provide digital immortality to a handful of eccentric billionaires? This documentary accompanies a number of researchers who are working toward this science fiction vision with practically inexhaustible funds - and with lots of science and ever less fiction.

Dust Storm looks at the growing menace created by this increasingly common phenomenon, which threatens both the environment and human health. Up to five billion tons of dust and sand blow around the earth each year: Dust Storm looks at the growing menace created by this increasingly common phenomenon, which threatens both the environment and human health. Governments are working feverishly on early warning systems and measures to protect their citizens. The Middle East, with its vast deserts, is particularly prone to dust and sandstorms. But the phenomenon is also becoming increasingly common in North America, Europe and Asia. The documentary explores the causes of dust storms and shows why they are becoming stronger and more frequent. Climate change in particular plays a major role. Scientists and politicians have been working closely together for a long time to protect people and infrastructure. Dust storms pose an extreme health risk, and the only real protection is to seek cover. But early warning systems don’t always sound the alarm in time. This documentary shows what protective measures can already be taken today and which ones experts are now working on.

Almost everything in the Chinese megacity of Shanghai is bigger and faster than anywhere else. Shanghai has the world’s biggest port and the longest underground railway system. Its skyline is soaring to ever-new heights. How can its 24 million inhabitants keep up? A driving force behind China’s rapid change, Shanghai is a city of superlatives and eventful history. The documentary follows people there through their everyday lives. Li Langbin is a dock worker; Li Yinfeng a security officer in the subway; and 25-year-old Dai Meng a singer rising to fame. These are some of the faces behind this dynamic metropolis. Entrepreneurs from all over the world also see the potential here in Shanghai. David Li has returned from the USA to launch a cutting edge start-up for autonomous driving. The skyscrapers in the Pudong district are a symbol of China's burgeoning economic growth. Not far away, old districts that still bear the traces of European colonialism, Japanese occupation and Mao's Cultural Revolution are disappearing. We meet people like Mr. Xi, who is opposed to this wave of modernization and refuses to leave his 100-year-old Shikumen house, even though most of his neighbors have already gone. Shanghai’s breakneck pace affects everything and everyone.

Travel could be changing. The Hyperloop is a capsule that is supposed to glide through a steel tube at 1200 kilometers an hour. Travel has always been a dream of humankind: to reach distant places or foreign countries in the shortest possible time. Even today, roads and rails are overloaded and resources are scarce. The most innovative idea for a solution is the Hyperloop. This is a capsule that is supposed to glide through a steel tube at 1200 kilometers an hour. Will we travel from Berlin to Paris in less than an hour? Los Angeles, the city of dreams, is the birthplace of a vision that could revolutionize travel. The Hyperloop is a rail moving at the speed of sound, 1,200 kilometers per hour, through a vacuum tube. The idea came from the billionaire Elon Musk. An international competition is intended to push the concept forward. A team from Munich has also been working on it. Students from the Technical University are determined to be part of the mobility of tomorrow. In the future, the desire for mobility is expected to increase. More and more people are traveling longer distances, but the existing infrastructure was not designed for such a mobile society. Is the Hyperloop - which travels as fast as sound - the solution to our traffic problems? Innovative technology has already been tried out in Germany. In the 1980s, the Transrapid monorail reached speeds surpassing today’s ICE and TGV. However, an accident resulting in 23 deaths on the test track in Emsland in 2006 put an end to its development in Germany. Does a new concept such as the Hyperloop stand a chance - or will we ultimately be left with that most durable of all means of transport, the car? Autonomous, self-propelled vehicles are designed to help make our mobility safer, but they may also bring new dangers. The first serious accident involving a self-driving car claimed a life. Nevertheless, digitalization is seen by many as the key to controlling motor traffic in the future.

Cologne Cathedral on the Rhine is one of the tallest churches in the world. Germany's most-visited landmark hosts royalty, politicians and celebrities. In the course of its history Cologne's majestic cathedral (known in German as 'Der Kölner Dom') has repeatedly been used for political and commercial ends. The documentary shows how the gentle giant has always retained its dignity. Home to one of the largest church treasuries in Germany, even today the cathedral continues to play an important role in the city's economic life. It attracts 20,000 visitors a day and its silhouette is used to promote the sale of all manner of products and souvenirs, from bottle openers to cookie cutters. As a powerful and distinctive symbol, it is also used to ensure publicity; the cathedral has seen environmental activists chaining themselves to scaffolding around its spires and a feminist protester appearing topless during a Christmas mass, while skaters and buskers also use the cathedral square for performances. The cathedral provides a backdrop for heads of state, international music stars and party events, but is exposed on a daily basis to wear and tear - from vandalism, street urination and the weather. The maintenance bill alone runs to around €20,000 a day. There have even been break-ins - the most spectacular being the Cathedral treasure robbery in 1975, described in the documentary by former public prosecutor Maria Therese Mösch. And one thing is certain: Cologne Cathedral and its powerful cardinals will always play a key role in Germany’s Catholic church.

Today modern archaeology often works with digital technology. Geophysics has allowed thousands of ancient sites to be located - a huge gain for science. The dig is no longer the be-all and end-all of archeology. We accompany some archeologists on their journey into the virtual past. Geophysics comprises a range of techniques with various geological and military functions. Geomagnetism is used to locate enemy submarines or potential reserves of oil or other minerals. Now, German and Irish archeologists have teamed up to use it to trace prehistoric grave systems. Researchers in western Germany are applying it to locate ancient procession and pilgrimage routes. Shipping archeologists in Bremerhaven are availing of digital technology to create virtual models of shipwrecks and, in Berlin, archeologists and game designers have also embarked on a joint project. As luck would have it, they scanned every millimeter of a temple in the Syrian city of Aleppo, not suspecting that, soon afterwards, the complex would be largely destroyed in the country’s civil war. Their virtual model is evidence that the study of the past can have uses for the present, just as technologies of the present can help us to study the past.

Ai Weiwei is a global star and an enigma. DW followed him for a year for this intimate portrait. The film shows Ai Weiwei at home, at work, and on the road for work, as he prepares his latest series of works focused on refugees and their fates.

In Bangladesh headlines are dominated by violence: Secular bloggers murdered by extremists, opponents of the government disappear, the Hindu minority is under attack. Why is Bangladesh finding it harder and harder to reconcile democracy and religion?

A new generation of Israelis and Germans is showing that reconciliation really is possible, even though – more than 70 years after the Holocaust – Germany still contends with anti-Semitism and anti-Jewish attacks.

The Spanish enclave of Melilla lives from the trade of second-hand goods. Carried on the shoulders of Moroccan women, these goods cross Europe's southernmost border. It’s a lucrative business for the traders, but inhumane work for the carriers.

With his pamphlets, Stéphane Hessel became an icon for youth culture in Europe and North Africa even in old age. He addressed issues such as rebellion against injustice, environmental destruction and the fight for human rights. Why was he so popular?

Lisbon, Portugal’s "White City", is an old multifaceted European city. The metropolis has experienced many periods of prosperity and has survived equally many crises. But what makes Lisbon so attractive today – especially among young people?

Countless Palestinians were forced to leave their homes after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. What Jewish Israelis celebrate as their declaration of independence, Palestinians call "Nakba" - catastrophe. Today they hope to one day rebuild their villages.

Charlemagne was one of the most powerful kings in world history and is widely regarded as the "Father of Europe." In 800, he became the first western European ruler to be crowned emperor in Rome. But who was Charlemagne really?

Otto the Great is regarded as the progenitor of Germany and German history begins with him. During his reign, the four main tribes on German territory began to see themselves as having a collective fate. But opponents made Otto's life difficult.

The Five Star Movement celebrated an historic victory in the Italian parliamentary elections. In tough coalition talks, top candidate Luigi di Maio has been under consideration for the job as prime minister. But what does the movement stand for?

In the Middle Ages, Friedrich I, also called "Barbarossa", was regarded as a brilliant ruler who fought for the "honor of the empire." Barbarossa's reign coincided with the crusades and the great age of chivalry. His life was full of ups and downs.

There is growing demand in the western world for organic food and consumers are prepared to pay a significant premium for it. But do consumers always get what it says on the label? How can authenticity be verified?

How did Martin Luther, a simple monk, become a key figure in history in the 15th century? Born into a world governed by the Roman Church and a distant emperor, Luther managed to unite and divide Germans. His message changed the world.

After the Thirty Years' War, there was a dramatic rivalry between two monarchs: the Prussian King Frederick II and the only female ruler of the House of Habsburg Maria Theresa. Only after making peace did both powers begin to flourish culturally.

The pages of a school exercise book contain the brave testimonies of 300 Central African women who suffered war atrocities. The notebook details the crimes committed by Congolese mercenaries in 2002. What does life look like for the victims today?

Prussia's Prime Minister Otto von Bismarck paved the way for the first German nation-state. For the first, the Germans were united in a single state with a single capital: Berlin. Bismarck became the Chancellor of the new German Empire.

Racism and assaults on foreigners did not fit with Communist East Germany's own self-image at all. Nevertheless, foreign contract workers were repeatedly hounded and subjected to violent attacks. Many of these crimes remain unsolved today.

As Afghanistan becomes increasingly dangerous, more international aid workers are withdrawing. But there are still some people in the country who refuse to give up.

Zero interest, exploding real estate prices and a rising stock market – the rich are getting richer. But what dangers does the global financial system pose to average citizens? Is the world facing a new financial crisis?

12,000 years ago, humans shifted from the nomadic lifestyle to the more settled life of farmers. The Stone Age produced monumental buildings made of stone blocks weighing tons. A trip back in time to an important period of human history.

How were our ancestors capable of building gigantic structures like burial mounds and stone rings, given that the technical possibilities of the Stone Age were still very simple? Archaeologists give us a deep insight into the history of humankind.

After more than five years, one of the most complex trials in post-war German history is coming to an end – the trial against the neo-Nazi NSU. Much of the trial focused on Beate Zschäpe. What role did the defendant and her associates play?

Museums have become the new cultural prestige objects – especially in the United Arab Emirates. The challenge of producing the world's biggest and most beautiful museum has taken on a new dimension. Hundreds of millions of Euros are being invested.

The Soviet Union succeeded in launching the first manmade Earth satellite into orbit in 1957. The world reacted with fear and fascination at the idea of exploring space. A look at the myths and realities of the first Sputnik expedition into space.

With its hula dancers, cool surfer dudes and white, sandy beaches: Hawaii is the place to go. Millions of tourists visit the archipelago in search of South Pacific paradise and "Aloha" - the breath of life. What is life really like on these islands?

Experts have long warned of an evolution in the world of cybercrime. Cyber attacks are increasing in frequency and scope. Financial markets, trade secrets and foreign government networks are all at stake. But is the fear of cyber attacks justified?

Philip Spenner spent his youth on the streets of Nairobi. Violence, fear, hunger and homelessness were daily obstacles. A donor from Hamburg made it possible for him to attend school. Today Philip Spenner is a high school teacher in Germany.

The wave of optimism that accompanied Poland's accession to the EU in 2004 is now a distant memory. What explains the extreme shift in Poland? What is the motivation behind Jaroslaw Kaczynski's drastic changes? And what is the impact of his policies?

Rendani Nethengwe is one of the most experienced rangers in South Africa's Kruger National Park and responsible for the protection of the animals. He sometimes fights poachers who ruthlessly slaughter elephants for their ivory tusks.

Karl Lagerfeld - the man behind the brand or the brand behind the man? Almost everyone knows who he is and where his talents lie but does anyone really know the man behind the sunglasses? A rare insight into the life of a fashion icon.

Colonia Dignidad, one of the darkest chapters in Chilean - and German history. For 20 years Winfried Hempel was trapped in the sect, an isolated world in which he had to endure slavery and torture. His struggle for justice.

Is free trade fair? What trickery, threats and deception take place when it comes to global trade? The documentary not only takes a look at the role of US President Trump and economic powerhouse China, but also the role of the European Union.

The world’s insatiable demand for chocolate is fueling poverty and environmental degradation. This report explores how a blend of fair working conditions and sustainable farming in Africa can deliver chocolate that leaves no bitter aftertaste.

Today modern archaeology often works with digital technology. Geophysics has allowed thousands of ancient sites to be located without resort to a shovel - a huge gain for science. Discover new insights from a journey into the virtual past.

Spain's Mar Menor is Europe's largest saltwater lagoon but it is under threat from industrial farming in the region. The local residents and fishermen are taking on the agricultural lobby to try and stop the destruction of this natural paradise.

The German and French armed forces are facing challenges due to foreign deployment. Both have to struggle with a lack of personnel and financial problems. Outsourcing and privatization are the solution - but at what price?

For 30 years, a brutal war between Catholics and Protestants raged in Central Europe. Power, intrigue, secret treaties and shady deals were at the center. In 1648, the bloody conflict was finally brought to an end by the Peace of Westphalia.

Even 23 years after the end of the war, Bosnia's population has to live amongst deadly minefields. Mine clearer, Davor Kolenda, thinks it’s a disgrace. Kolenda and his team are fighting for a mine-free Bosnia-Herzegovina – often risking their lives.

External companies have long been supplying armed forces with equipment as well as know-how and personnel. But just how privatized are defense forces in Europe and what could the impacts of connecting the worlds of military and business be?

Brutal soldiers and marauding mercenaries turned Central Europe into a battlefield in 1618. Almost all the major European powers had a hand in the war. The peace negotiations lasted five years and signaled the beginnings of modern diplomacy.

West Virginia, USA - under its wild mountain idyll hides the "black hell": A labyrinth of tunnels just one meter high, in which miners still spend their entire working days toiling in the dark on their hands and knees. Hard life in a coal mine.

Fear has returned to Europe. Jewish people are afraid of attacks in the street. This documentary explores the causes of this new wave of anti-Semitism in Germany and in neighboring Poland and France.

Singapore, the small city-state in Southeast Asia, has always been a country of immigration – and is one of the richest countries in the world. People of different ethnicities, religions and cultures live peacefully side by side.

Cashless payments are on the rise around the world. They are fast, easy and convenient. But who benefits from digital payment systems? What happens to our financial data? Are consumers losing some of their freedom as a result?

Korea’s education system is ruled by competition. With suicide being the No.1 cause of death among teenagers, it’s been argued the system produces overachieving students who pay a high price in health and happiness. Digitization could bring about a change to Korea’s overheated education system.

In January 1616, the Dutch navigator Willem Cornelisz Schouten, discovered the southern tip of South America. 400 years later, adventurer Arved Fuchs sets out to make the journey around Cape Horn on a traditional fishing boat.

The torture victims of the Syrian regime fear being forgotten. Survivors of the jails are now fighting for justice in Germany. The principle of 'universal jurisdiction' could allow crimes against humanity in Syria to be prosecuted in foreign courts.

For decades in the West, Libya was practically synonymous with Muammar Gaddafi. But since the revolution there and the NATO deployment in 2011, images of civil war and chaos are more common. Are hopes of a democratic new beginning doomed to fail?

Everything we do in the digital world involves data. The bits and bytes can serve our interests or be used against us. But without digital trust there can be no digital business. How do startups deal with personal data and cybersecurity?

Four refugees are torn between Syria and Europe – torn between the safety of their places of refuge and news they receive from friends and family back in Syria. Through these messages, the film offers an intimate insight into life in war-torn Syria.

This film could turn our image of Africa upside down: mobile payments in remote villages, drones monitoring harvests, 3D printers that deliver spare parts and reduce electronic waste, and robots that direct traffic. Creative start-ups, from Nairobi to Kumasi, are developing technical innovations that are inspiring the world.

The 2008 financial crisis spread distrust in banks and sped up the acceptance of new kinds of money. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin now promise to provide transparent, democratic alternatives. Startups in the Philippines are disrupting old structures.

Forests are so much more than just exploitable land; they can also be a place of healing. An increasing number of doctors and scientists agree forests can have positive health effects, such as alleviating hypertension, depression and stress.

The Allied occupation of Strasbourg on November 23, 1944, spelled the end of the Reich University. Most professors had fled, but Johannes Stein, Dean of the Medical Faculty, stayed on. What did he know about the crimes of the National Socialists?

Refugees Amjad, Omar, Zena and Shahinaz are living in Münster, Saarbrücken, Ahrweiler and Lausanne. However, they are not entirely present in their new homes. Every day they receive messages and videos from relatives and friends in Syria.

All over the globe, digital transformation is opening new paths for women. In Indonesia, more and more are taking the opportunities for independence it offers to open a business. But how do the young founders cope with the challenges posed by the role? All have had to overcome hurdles thrown up by traditional structures, widely accepted clichés and investors who prefer to bet on men.

To find a flurry of snowflakes in a winter wonderland, you sometimes have to travel far. We traveled to Montreal in Canada, to the forests of Karelia in Russia, and to the Japanese island of Hokkaido. Winter can be tough in all three places.

What is life like in Raqqa today? In October 2017, the northern Syrian city was liberated from the rule of the so-called Islamic State, or IS.

Soil is the foundation of nature, environment and food. Soil is full of life, of which most people know little about. But mismanagement is threatening world food supplies. The consequences are desertification and contamination. Is disaster looming?

The Alaska Highway: A 2,400-kilometer track through swamps and mountain ranges and the only road connecting the US mainland to Alaska. Built by the US military in just seven months in 1942, today it’s a popular route for tourists and truckers.

Markus is autistic. He’ll probably never grow up, nor does he want to. "Most people don’t understand that, even my parents think it’s bad," says Markus. The documentary follows Markus for a year.

Lake Malawi, between Malawi and Tanzania, has long been home to an extraordinary variety of fish. But the most important species in Africa's third largest lake is almost extinct, a result of unscrupulous over-fishing and population growth.

2019 marks the 100th anniversary of the opening of Germany’s best-known art school, the Bauhaus. Do the Bauhaus’s social ideals and design principles still shape how we live today? Explore the legacy of this iconic German institution.

In India, public outrage over violence against women has reached fever pitch. Entrepreneurs are no longer willing to let the devastating violations go unchallenged – they’re trying to create safer cities with technology.

Whang Od is the last tattoo artist of the Kalinga, a mountain tribe in the north of the Philippines. She has spent her whole life tattooing warriors and headhunters. These days, young people will travel across the world just to meet her.

Part two of the Bauhaus series traces its worldwide influence on art, design and architecture. Where do we encounter the Bauhaus in everyday life? Nowadays is it just a brand? Is the Bauhaus to blame for the modern world’s obsession with design?

In India, public outrage over violence against women has reached fever pitch. Entrepreneurs are no longer willing to let the devastating violations go unchallenged – and so they’re trying to create safer cities with technology.

Part 3 explores the influence of the Bauhaus philosophy on today’s globalized society. “How do we want to live in the future?”, “Can design and good craftsmanship improve lives?” - have the questions that the Bauhaus posed been answered?

Towards the end of World War II, a train set off from the Leitmeritz concentration camp with several thousand prisoners on board. The film shows how the Czech population succeeded in liberating around 1,500 of an estimated 4,000 prisoners.

Could private investment be more effective than traditional development aid? A German company is setting up a solar container in the village of Amaloul Nomade in Niger. If the project is successful, it will be launched in another 500 villages.

Africa's future belongs to the startups. Whether in Kenya, Uganda or Senegal - with their apps and platforms the founders are looking for gaps in existing services and are working on solutions from the private side.

What are the opportunities and limitations of robotics, automation and artificial intelligence? The world of work is undergoing radical change. The documentary shows companies embracing new technologies to help them they stay globally competitive.

Female genital mutilation is a serious violation of human rights. Yet, an estimated 200 million women worldwide have suffered genital mutilation as children. More than 50,000 victims now live in Germany. How do these women overcome such trauma?

Farmers now live far more in the future than any other professionals. "Smart farming" is the agricultural industry's new buzzword: A majority of German farmers uses digital solutions to optimize their harvests.

Digital nomads: They travel the world permanently, work on the road and are always online. Their lives epitomize the digital revolution and how it is changing how we work and live. But their Lifestyle also has its limits.

The train line through Ecuador is considered one of the most spectacular in South America. It's 450 kilometers long and runs from the Pacific coast up to the Andean highlands. The train zigzags to ascend 500 meters – not a trip for the faint-hearted.

Researchers into raw materials in Germany are developing new products with the aim of launching sustainable production trends: bamboo bicycle frames, chicory fiber pantyhose, and crockery made from old coffee grounds.

More and more war crimes and human rights violations are brought to indictment. In almost all conflict and crisis regions in the world, people are now using their smartphones to document events. And older crimes can be reconstructed using satellite imagery. The documentary shows how state-of-the-art technology helps uncover these crimes worldwide.

Alondra de la Parra is a star of classical music. She has conducted more than 100 orchestras in 20 countries, breaking the glass ceiling in a male-dominated profession. In 2017, she was appointed Music Director of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.

Doris Wagner used to be a nun. She reported to the Catholic Church authorities how she had been spiritually and sexually abused by priests - to no avail. She then appeared in a televised conversation with Cardinal Christoph Schönborn.

In Colombia, the human rights organization Equitas is searching for missing people with the help of their relatives. Satellite images, 3D mapping and algorithms are lending new momentum to the seemingly hopeless search. Can technology bring justice?

Music for video games is a growing if still underrated genre. Some tracks now even make the charts. What began with the simple 8-bit Game Boy melody has warped into complex compositions and arrangements that are finding their way into concert halls.

Few cities are as threatened by the phenomenon of mass tourism than Venice. Every year, more than 30 million visitors come to the city, causing many residents to move away. Those who have remained feel left behind. But they are fighting back.

Women around the world use social media platforms as a weapon in their struggle for equal rights. Their online campaigns against femicide in Latin America, FGM in Africa or compulsory headscarves in Iran, mobilize thousands others.

Two young Palestinian men attack Israeli soldiers in the West Bank city of Hebron with knives. One of the attackers is shot dead; the other is wounded, left lying on the ground unable to move. What happened next would spark debate in Israeli society like few other events in the country’s history.

A refugee from Ethiopia has built a new life for herself in Italy, producing and selling goat’s cheese. The move has helped increase numbers among an increasingly rare breed of the animals, which are allowed to graze on abandoned communal pastures.

Europe is paying African states billions of euros to act as its new border police. Development aid is being used as a bargaining chip to control immigration. What price do refugees hoping to seek asylum pay and who is benefiting from this policy?

When the price of crude oil tumbled between 2014 and 2016, it heralded the demise of an economic and geopolitical world order in place since the end of World War II. Today, fracking technology has turned the US into the world's largest oil producer.

Light wheeled tanks roll over the sands of Mali on a patrol led by a young Bundeswehr officer. The documentary accompanies the man for a year as he’s deployed on the UN mission - from its start at training camps in Germany until he returns home.

Elon Musk and Tesla initially appeared to have left the rest of the car industry in the dust. But things have become tougher for Elon Musk's crown jewel company. The race to dominate the market for the car of the future has entered a critical phase.

Experts predict that up to 20% of Bangladesh will disappear beneath the water within the next 30 years as rivers and sea levels rise. As many as 30 million people will have to be resettled as a result of climate change.

The government led by the right-wing Lega and anti-establishment Five Star movement is causing a stir. Xenophobia, frustration, isolation, aggressive rhetoric and indifference to rising debt are now part of everyday political life in Italy.

In the Chinese city of Chongqing, the Shibati district is the only neighborhood to have survived the government’s drive to demolish and rebuild. But it won’t be around for long. Here too, the narrow alleyways are giving way to vast shopping centers.

The Internet has turned the worlds of retail, book publishing and finance upside down. Now the next chapter in the digital age is dawning - the era of the virtual currency Bitcoin. It's a revolution that could ultimately make banks superfluous.

How much power do people with a lot of money really have? Who decides how Germany should look? These questions are the subject of the film "Land of Inequality - Power.” Many studies show that a small but wealthy part of society defines a country’s political direction. It’s the same all over the world.