Crime in Post-War Germany

The two-part documentary Crime in Post-War Germany shows how strained life was between 1945 and 1949 in the four occupied zones. Using the example of individual, particularly serious criminal cases, like in Dresden where a wood collector comes across the severed legs of a person or in Hamburg, where the so-called rubble murders terrify the whole city.

Overview Credits Watch Reviews Seasons Images Videos Recommendations Similar

Created By
Status	Returning Series
Original Name	Crime in Post-War Germany
First Air Date	February 20, 2020
Last Air Date	February 27, 2020
Seasons	1
Episodes	2
Episode Runtime	0min
Language	English
Original Language	English
Production Countries	Germany
Production Companies	ZDF
Networks

S01E02

The West

Robbery, murder, rape. After the war, West Germany was the scene of a great deal of brutal crime. On the German-Belgian border, children risk their lives for something to eat. In Bavaria, a woman is abused by US soldiers. Amidst the ruins of Hamburg, inhabitants make a shocking discovery. What lengths would people go to back then? And how did criminals exploit the chaos? The documentary shows how strained life was in the West zones, and how a society in tatters struggled to find new values. The death penalty itself is put on trial. In Tübingen, the final execution takes place in February 1949 following a judgement by the West German authorities. The foundation of the Federal Republic three months later heralded the dawn of a new era.

View Episodes