Tim Carlberg

Putin’s war of aggression has fundamentally changed the German-Russian relationship. This is especially a special topic for those people who grew up in the GDR. Because what the USA were to many in the west, the Soviet Union was to many in the east: “the big brother”. And now? The invasion of Ukraine by the Russia calls old certainties into question, rocked convictions, and runs like a rift through families. In “Russia, Putin and we East Germans”, the ARD journalist and host Jessy Wellmer embarks on a very personal journey through the east of Germany. Born in 1979 in Güstrow in Mecklenburg, the Russian war of aggression also caused intensive discussions in her family which ultimately were the cause for this film. How do the East Germans think with regards to Russia? Why is there often a greater deal of closeness to Russia here? And what does it say about the divide which still exists in the German populace more than 30 years after the fall of the wall?

How do you deal with right-wing extremists in the neighborhood? Exclude, tolerate or involve? Rural regions in particular are prone to infiltration by nationalist settlers. Right-wing extremists systematically penetrate village structures, pretending to be nice neighbors, committed citizens and problem solvers in a completely non-ideological way. Local volunteer fire brigades and football clubs are infiltrated by Nazis. Done among others in the village of Groß Krams in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where two right-wing extremists seem to be part of everyday village life. One of them works as a firefighter. In Appen, Schleswig-Holstein, the state chairman of the Hamburg NPD wanted to join the village's football club. But the club's management refused when they found out about the political background. The documentary by Hans Jakob Rausch illuminates the infiltration strategies of the extreme right and the difficult balance between tolerance and engagement against right-wing radicalism.

Judith Rakers discovers the largest of the East Frisian Islands through the people who live and work or holiday here. At around 30 kilometres, the "pearl of the North" is the furthest away from the mainland of all the East Frisian islands, which also influences the climate. The high seas climate is ideal for allergy sufferers and asthmatics because the air here is particularly low in pollen and high in iodine. You can't breathe deeper anywhere!

Judith Rakers gets to know Usedom on land, on water and from the air: In the self-built plane of an islander, there is a spectacular view from above, she explores the Usedom "Mörderhus" with acting star Katrin Sass and in the catamaran of an islander, the Tagesschau anchorwoman ploughs through the Baltic Sea waves. The "last" island fisherman takes her along on his cutter. And then she faces her greatest challenge: bathing in the ice-cold Baltic Sea, and in a historical swimming costume.

Sylt - the exceptional island where the "rich and beautiful" cavort in luxury boutiques and unaffordable villas, the jet set celebrates wild parties and the locals can barely afford to live. These are the clichés that many people associate with the North Sea island. Judith Rakers gets to know the island through the people she meets there. She explores the magic of contrasts with them.

The North Sea island of Langeoog lies in the East Frisian Wadden Sea. Judith Rakers discovers the special features of the attractive island through the people who live, work or holiday here. Among others, she meets East Frisia crime novelist Klaus-Peter Wolf, who has "hidden" many a corpse here. Mudflat guide Joke Pouliart takes the presenter on a culinary hike through the Wadden Sea Biosphere Reserve and entertainer Ingolf Lück takes her on a journey into his past at the school hostel on Langeoog.

The East Frisian North Sea islands of Langeoog and Juist in the East Frisian Wadden Sea are characterised above all by a heavenly tranquillity. Judith Rakers discovers the special features of the islands through the people who live, work or holiday here. Among others, she meets East Frisia crime novelist Klaus-Peter Wolf, who has "hidden" many a corpse on Langeoog. Entertainer Ingolf Lück takes her on a journey into his school hostel past, and on Juist she meets horse-drawn carriage driver Hilke Nanninga and Juist singer and songwriter Jannik Brunke.

Norderney is the second largest of the East Frisian islands, Föhr the second largest North Frisian island. But do the two popular North Sea islands have anything else in common? Judith Rakers wants to find out and discovers the beauties of the islands through the people she meets there. On Norderney she enjoys the rehearsals of the "Döntjes-Singers" and a walk in the dunes. The crossing to Föhr has to be earned: Judith Rakers lends a hand on a crab cutter. Afterwards there is a crash course in Frisian at the island radio station "FriiskFunk".

Judith Rakers' island stories this time take her to Helgoland, Germany's only high-sea island, and to the Dutch North Sea island of Ameland, also known as the "Wadden Diamond". On her Helgoland tour, the presenter meets Helgoland fan Hubertus Meyer-Burckhardt and visits a lobster nursery. Ameland is one of the five inhabited West Frisian islands and is considered a popular travel and excursion destination. Judith Rakers meets singer Loona, who has her roots in the Netherlands, on Ameland.

Judith Raker's "island stories" take her from Sylt's dreamy sandy beaches and the best-known hot spot "Buhne 16" to the nudist campsite on Amrum. She explores the islands through locals and newcomers and through prominent island fans: among other things, she delves into the island's history with Sylt expert Sylke von Bremen and competes with Sylt's best-known restaurateur Jürgen Gosch in crab picking. On Amrum she meets the actor Heinrich Schafmeister, who used to spend his holidays here as a child.

Documentary about a "transportation commando" in Germany with the goal to deport 200 people to Albania...