Adelsdynastien in NRW: Die Fürsten zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg

SS — the two letters in old Germanic rune script represent the most effective and dangerous instrument of power of the Nazi dictatorship. The SS represented more than any other Nazi organisation the wild and deadly delusions of those who believed themselves part of the master race. It took only a few years for Hitler's Schutzstaffel to be transformed from an insignificant personal bodyguard to an all-powerful empire of evil. There are personal interviews with survivors and and with those men who served the inhuman SS system. Only now, as their lives draw to a close, are they prepared to speak up. In the world's first television series on the overall history of the SS, this documentary series takes a balanced view with many previously unpublished sources and with witnesses to the history of the SS: victims, perpetrators and opponents.

Jan Ullrich travels to the most important places in his life, openly discussing his life's journey, his successes and downfalls.

The Battle of Stalingrad, which cost the lives of at least a million German soldiers, Red Army troops and Soviet civilians, was the bloodiest of the decisive battles in the "war of extermination" which Hitler had unleashed. This three-part documentary, employing previously unreleased film footage and brutally frank statements from survivors on both sides, explains exactly how the catastrophe came about and describes the gruesome consequences of the battle for the soldiers and the inhabitants of the city.

“Liberty Train – Bürger’s Long Journey” sheds light on the events of the PEACEFUL REVOLUTION of 1989 from different perspectives. It centres on the eyewitnesses who, together with thousands of other people who had fled East Germany, were in the garden of the West German Embassy in Prague on the evening of the 30 September 1989.

This documentary chronicles the life story of the Dallas Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki and his inspiring journey from Germany to superstardom in the NBA.

Klitschko tells the captivating story of the boxing worlds most famous brothers: Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko. From the socialist drill of their childhood in the Ukraine, and their first successes as amateurs, to their move to Germany and subsequent rise as international stars on the verge of holding the championship titles of all five boxing federations (Wladimir secured this with his unanimous World Boxing Association win against David Haye on July 2nd, 2011). Along the way they experience defeats and setbacks, low points and triumphant comebacks as well as conflicts with each other. Exciting conversations with companions and opponents, including the very first with the Klitschkos parents, give insight into their personal lives, plus never-before-seen footage of the draining preparations for a fight, and the spectacular boxing matches. Director Sebastian Dehnhardt composes an intimate and fascinating portrait of two exceptional athletes who are, before all else, brothers.

In seven decades, Udo Jürgens composed more than 1,000 songs and sold more than 105 million records - including immortal classics of pop culture. The documentary ‘Udo!’ shows the gripping profile of a restless man who, at the proud age of 80, still filled the halls on his ‘Mitten im Leben’ tour and conquered the audience. Udo Jürgens and his breathless biography: musical genius, heartthrob, dream dancer, self-doubter, a character with many facets. The entertainer balanced effortlessly between high gloss and depth. Previously unpublished material such as photos, letters, diary entries, tape recordings and private films provide exclusive insights into his dazzling life.

As part of "Noble Dynasties in NRW", Julia Melchior visits the Counts Beissel von Gymnich at Wasserburg Satzvey.

The Aldi Story—Karl and Theo Albrecht Theo and Karl Albrecht are the most mysterious figures in the Federal Republic of Germany. They built a global business empire, amassed a fortune worth billions, and became the richest Germans. When Theo Albrecht died in 2010 and his brother Karl in 2014, they had turned a small corner store—which they took over from their mother in 1946—into a chain with 4,300 stores in Germany. The company sets the prices for our staple foods; moreover, the brothers have influenced our food culture and shaped our mindset.