You need to be logged in to mark episodes as watched. Log in or sign up.
Season 2022
2022x1
Starving with Instagram: How does Insta trigger eating disorders?
Episode overview
They are disturbing images of bones protruding from bodies that are far too thin. The comments below: “Still too fat” or “Help me, I want to be thinner”. All of this on Insta, just a few
.. show full overview
They are disturbing images of bones protruding from bodies that are far too thin. The comments below: “Still too fat” or “Help me, I want to be thinner”. All of this on Insta, just a few clicks away from the platform's colorful feelgood page. Svea Eckert and Sulaiman Tadmory immerse themselves in an anorexia community. Anorexia is considered the deadliest mental illness. In an experiment, they are investigating how the Insta algorithm works and to what extent Instagram can fuel eating disorders. They meet young women and girls who are torn between looking for like-minded people but also knowing that Instagram is pulling them deeper into their illness.
2022x2
Lock away or cure? What to do with mentally ill criminals?
Episode overview
Florian wanted to kill several people. When he committed his crime, he suffered from schizoid personality disorder. That's why he doesn't go to prison, but to the correctional system.
.. show full overview
Florian wanted to kill several people. When he committed his crime, he suffered from schizoid personality disorder. That's why he doesn't go to prison, but to the correctional system. Mentally ill offenders receive therapy here and, in most cases, are supposed to find a way back into society. Florian has been accommodated for more than 11 years now and there is little prospect of being released. Do people like Florian deserve a second chance or should they be locked away forever? The Strg_f authors Kira Gantner and Simone Horst met Florian.
Bike paths that simply end. Cycle paths that are impassable or cycle paths where cars are parked. Every cyclist knows this madness and the struggle on the roads. But many of these routes
.. show full overview
Bike paths that simply end. Cycle paths that are impassable or cycle paths where cars are parked. Every cyclist knows this madness and the struggle on the roads. But many of these routes are not only stupid, but also dangerous: in 2019, 445 cyclists died in Germany, by far the most in Europe. Things are getting better, as our neighboring countries show. In Copenhagen and Utrecht, for example, cyclists enjoy their own cycle streets and traffic lights. Reporter Isabel Ströh went looking for the craziest bike paths in Hamburg. Why are the cycle paths in Germany so often so bad?
2022x4
Jonas Ems, Gnu, LeFloid: Does social media make you sick?
Episode overview
As dazzling as the world of influencers often seems, the business is tough. The pressure to keep posting new videos is relentless! What often looks like fun on YouTube is work that
.. show full overview
As dazzling as the world of influencers often seems, the business is tough. The pressure to keep posting new videos is relentless! What often looks like fun on YouTube is work that drives some of the platform's stars into burnouts. The STRG_F reporters Désirée Fehringer and Gunnar Krupp spoke to eight well-known influencers about mental stress, pressure of numbers, panic attacks, alcohol problems and existential fears. Numbers of clicks, likes, shares and subscriptions make up the value of a channel, but the pressure to remain relevant in the long term is great. For many influencers, it means that they hardly allow themselves any breaks or vacations. For YouTuber Kalle Koschinsky, the overwork ended in burnout; in the STRG_F interview, YouTuber LeFloid talks about situations in which he couldn't take it anymore and resorted to the bottle live in the stream. At some point he pulled the ripcord at the last moment...Why do so many YouTubers collapse under the pressure, trei
Within a year, four drug addicts died of an overdose. The substance: fentanyl. A painkiller that is up to fifty times more potent than heroin. The strange thing about the cases: All four
.. show full overview
Within a year, four drug addicts died of an overdose. The substance: fentanyl. A painkiller that is up to fifty times more potent than heroin. The strange thing about the cases: All four men die in Schleswig, a northern German coastal town with just 25,000 inhabitants. Nothing comparable happened anywhere else in Germany during this period. STRG_F reporter Eva Schulze-Gabrechten wants to know what's behind the fentanyl deaths. Are they just a coincidence? Or does Schleswig have a problem with fentanyl? Her search leads Eva into the Schleswig drug scene and into nursing.
The fatal accident happened on the A66 near Hofheim: several vehicles collided, a 71-year-old's car caught fire and she died in the vehicle. The culprits seemed to be found quickly:
.. show full overview
The fatal accident happened on the A66 near Hofheim: several vehicles collided, a 71-year-old's car caught fire and she died in the vehicle. The culprits seemed to be found quickly: three sports car drivers were accused of organizing an illegal car race and thus causing the accident. Accusations of murder were raised. But a few days after the accident, the public prosecutor dropped the murder charge. STRG_F reporter Nadia took a close look at the accident: What happened?
Joachim T. was not noticed by the police before the corona pandemic. He worked as a physiotherapist, was more active in the eco-scene and also lived in a commune for a while. But as the
.. show full overview
Joachim T. was not noticed by the police before the corona pandemic. He worked as a physiotherapist, was more active in the eco-scene and also lived in a commune for a while. But as the virus spread across Europe, doubts grew in his mind. He considered the pandemic to be a grand narrative, apparently created with the aim of controlling the population: “For me, that’s where the fear came from, really a great fear. And from that the idea of having to defend oneself,” he says today, “that’s how I got into weapon building.” Joachim T. started making firearms with a 3D printer. The public prosecutor's office is also investigating him because he is said to have founded an armed group. T. is not the only one who has become radicalized in the last two years. Last year there were at least 19 arson attacks in which there is at least a suspicion that they could have been carried out by opponents of the Corona measures.
⚠ Dear community, this film is about war, destruction and escape. If you feel uncomfortable with this content, it is better not to watch this episode alone. Suddenly everything is
.. show full overview
⚠ Dear community, this film is about war, destruction and escape. If you feel uncomfortable with this content, it is better not to watch this episode alone. Suddenly everything is different: bombs are now falling where people were drinking coffee with milk, going out and living their lives just a few days ago. On February 24th, the Russian army attacks Ukraine across the board: a war of aggression in Europe. A team of CTRL_F reporters sorts through the events of the first week of this war and tells the stories of people whose lives are suddenly no longer the same.
2022x9
Blocking highways, flattening SUVs: How far does climate protest go?
Episode overview
In view of the war in Ukraine, hardly anyone heard what the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) had to say last week: The climate catastrophe is already here, living
.. show full overview
In view of the war in Ukraine, hardly anyone heard what the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) had to say last week: The climate catastrophe is already here, living conditions on our planet are changing dramatically and faster than expected, while our governments are failing to combat it. The bleaker the forecasts, the more radical the climate protest becomes: STRG_F accompanied a group of activists who are blocking highways, ports and airports - for the climate. They are forcing attention to their cause: a binding law against food waste in order to save greenhouse gases. The group calls itself “The Last Generation” because they say they are the last generation that may be able to avert climate catastrophe. Many of their actions are criminal. But even prison sentences don't seem to deter them. Who are they and how far do they go?
2022x10
German fighters in Ukraine: Are they influencing the war?
Episode overview
While millions of people are currently fleeing the horror of war in Ukraine, that's exactly where they want to go: volunteer fighters from Germany - and many other countries. Some have
.. show full overview
While millions of people are currently fleeing the horror of war in Ukraine, that's exactly where they want to go: volunteer fighters from Germany - and many other countries. Some have never held a weapon in their hands, others are ex-soldiers with combat training. They are all united by the will to fight for Ukraine against Russia. STRG_F reporters accompanied German volunteers on their way to war. For example, “Shyfox” (early 20s), he ordered a protective vest and helmet online, wrote his will and set off for Ukraine. Other fighters are already in the war zone and some are even returning. One tells us how he barely survived a massive rocket attack. Why do Germans want to fight in Ukraine? And doesn’t that make the war escalate further?
2022x11
Escape through the Alps: In sneakers through the deep snow
Episode overview
Thousands of people risk their lives every year to cross the Alps into Northern Europe. Strict controls on buses and trains encourage refugees to walk across the mountains. The more
.. show full overview
Thousands of people risk their lives every year to cross the Alps into Northern Europe. Strict controls on buses and trains encourage refugees to walk across the mountains. The more remote and dangerous the routes, the better your chances of not getting caught by the police. Our reporters Timo and Sebastian accompanied refugees as they fled across the Alps. And experience what it means to flee through the forest in the middle of the night in deep snow at an altitude of over 2000 meters.
2022x12
Triple murder: Crime committed by a right-wing extremist?
Episode overview
Three dead, two crime scenes. It was an act that made national headlines: a brutal triple murder in Dänischenhagen, a municipality in Schleswig-Holstein, and in Kiel. The dentist Hartmut
.. show full overview
Three dead, two crime scenes. It was an act that made national headlines: a brutal triple murder in Dänischenhagen, a municipality in Schleswig-Holstein, and in Kiel. The dentist Hartmut F. shoots his estranged wife and her new boyfriend with 48 shots from a submachine gun. He then drives on to a family friend and shoots him too - with shots directly in the face. Now Hartmut F. is standing trial, charged with murder. When reporting on the brutal murder, jealousy, revenge and family drama are often mentioned. But according to CTRL_F research, there could be a lot more to it. The 43-year-old mother of four separated from her husband, Hartmut F, at the end of 2020 after repeated outbreaks of violence and abuse. In court she obtained that he was no longer allowed to come near her.
They work for 300 euros a month - exploitation in the name of beauty. Trim, file and paint your fingernails all day long. Nail salons repeatedly attract attention due to slavery. People
.. show full overview
They work for 300 euros a month - exploitation in the name of beauty. Trim, file and paint your fingernails all day long. Nail salons repeatedly attract attention due to slavery. People are kidnapped from Vietnam and have to do forced labor. We tell the stories of the victims from two investigative files. Young people who dreamed of Germany and ended up in nothing.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine is forcing millions of people to flee. The willingness of people at the borders to help is huge and politicians across Europe are also reacting: the EU is
.. show full overview
The Russian invasion of Ukraine is forcing millions of people to flee. The willingness of people at the borders to help is huge and politicians across Europe are also reacting: the EU is activating the mass influx directive for the first time. Through it, refugees from Ukraine now receive residence permits and work permits in an unbureaucratic manner, without first having to go through a lengthy asylum process - an EU-wide agreement on migration policy that was not achieved in 2015, when many refugees came from Syria. Some now refer to Ukrainians as “real refugees” – a distinction that greatly concerns STRG_F reporter Sulaiman Tadmory, who himself fled the war in Syria in 2015. Are there second-class refugees in Germany?
A former left-wing undercover agent comes forward and wants to clear the air. Actually, nothing like that happens. It took many preliminary discussions and several attempts before Jan P.
.. show full overview
A former left-wing undercover agent comes forward and wants to clear the air. Actually, nothing like that happens. It took many preliminary discussions and several attempts before Jan P. actually sat down in front of the camera. For 10 years in the 90s he spied on the left-wing autonomous scene in Wuppertal and Solingen and betrayed his friends to the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. He then remained silent about his double life for 20 years. His original aim was to protect the state. But today his doubts that he was a henchman for the wrong cause prevail. STRG_F reporter Felix met Jan P. and asked himself: What does such a double life do to people - to the traitor and the betrayed?
2022x16
Against Putin: This is how dangerous protest is in Russia
Episode overview
Darja is a blogger. Sonja studied art in St. Petersburg. Alisa makes sculptures in the provincial town of Nizhny Tagil. Helga is a deputy in the Novosibirsk City Council. The Russian
.. show full overview
Darja is a blogger. Sonja studied art in St. Petersburg. Alisa makes sculptures in the provincial town of Nizhny Tagil. Helga is a deputy in the Novosibirsk City Council. The Russian invasion of Ukraine turned their lives upside down. Darja is taken away by the police; someone writes “traitor” on her door at night. Sonja is arrested after an art event and flees to Georgia before the next court date. There are proceedings underway against Alisa. And Helga wakes up in the “capital of the ‘Z” after the war begins. CTRL_F these four women have given an insight into their lives, and thus also into the dictatorship that Russia is now. STRG_F also speaks with people like Nikita, a student who creates a mood for the war and against women like Daria, Sonja and Alisa in a Telegram group. Who is happy that Russia is “big” again.
2022x17
Adidas, Puma, Boss & Co: Cotton from forced labor in China?
Episode overview
There has been a suspicion for a long time: cotton in top fashion brands is said to have been harvested or processed using forced labor. Namely in the remote province of Xinjiang in
.. show full overview
There has been a suspicion for a long time: cotton in top fashion brands is said to have been harvested or processed using forced labor. Namely in the remote province of Xinjiang in western China. There, minorities such as the Uighurs are apparently being systematically oppressed and persecuted by the central government. Many end up in camps or prisons and are apparently forced into forced labor there - including in cotton fields. What does this have to do with us? 20% of the world's cotton comes from Xinjiang. It has a particularly high quality when picked by hand. So she must be in a lot of clothes. Many textile companies have apparently recognized that the risk of forced labor is great: Hugo Boss, Adidas and Puma declared that they would not use any cotton from Xinjiang in their products. However, tracking this has so far been very difficult. Independent journalistic work is not possible in Xinjiang.
Henri Nannen, founder of STERN magazine, spoke extensively about his past during his lifetime. But he always avoided one chapter: his past during National Socialism. The propaganda unit
.. show full overview
Henri Nannen, founder of STERN magazine, spoke extensively about his past during his lifetime. But he always avoided one chapter: his past during National Socialism. The propaganda unit “Südstern” also tried to influence the enemy on the Italian front in 1944 with anti-Semitic leaflets. And her "boss" according to several sources: Henri Nannen. STRG_F reporters Han Park and Gunnar Krupp show some shocking images and get to the bottom of the question of how a man who was apparently responsible for Nazi propaganda could still become an icon of German journalism.
2022x19
Abuse in the gymnastics club: How those affected defend themselves
Episode overview
A gym in Weimar was a crime scene for many years. Girls between the ages of 12 and 16 trained there - and many of them experienced sexual abuse. Through her gymnastics coach Robert P. As
.. show full overview
A gym in Weimar was a crime scene for many years. Girls between the ages of 12 and 16 trained there - and many of them experienced sexual abuse. Through her gymnastics coach Robert P. As a trained police officer, he was the epitome of a confidant. Was liked by colleagues and parents. Today we know he was also a serial offender. He has now been convicted of multiple sexual abuses. How did his manipulative system work? How could he remain undetected for so long? After those affected have remained silent for many years, they are now telling their stories. This film tells what happened to them and how they defend themselves.
2022x20
Secret chat group: This is what the AfD parliamentary group talked about in the Bundestag
Episode overview
How does the AfD talk when no one is listening? At least we now know that for the members of the first AfD parliamentary group in the German Bundestag. Because we were given access to
.. show full overview
How does the AfD talk when no one is listening? At least we now know that for the members of the first AfD parliamentary group in the German Bundestag. Because we were given access to their chat group. 40,000 messages from four years. In it, the MPs criticize their political opponents, defame their own leadership - and argue about how right-wing extremist their party should be. Above all, the chats show how torn the faction in the Bundestag actually is. Katja and Christian, both reporters at WDR, and Sebastian from NDR evaluated the chats and show in this documentary what they found in them, among other things.
Frank Thelen is one of the biggest influencers in Germany. He successfully presents himself as a visionary entrepreneur - in talk shows, until recently in the television show “The Lions'
.. show full overview
Frank Thelen is one of the biggest influencers in Germany. He successfully presents himself as a visionary entrepreneur - in talk shows, until recently in the television show “The Lions' Den” and of course on his own social media channels. Now he is mobilizing his fans to invest in a public fund - within a few months the value of the fund is now at 100 million euros. Reason enough for the STRG_F reporters Johannes Edelhoff and Timo Robben to take a closer look at the start of entrepreneurs and ask the question: Can you really trust Frank Thelen?
2022x22
Battle for the forest: Foresters versus mountain bikers
Episode overview
Mountain bikers have conquered the Deister, a hilly forest area near Hanover. They cut illegal paths into the forest, build curves and ramps - downhill, with no regard for plants and
.. show full overview
Mountain bikers have conquered the Deister, a hilly forest area near Hanover. They cut illegal paths into the forest, build curves and ramps - downhill, with no regard for plants and wild animals. STRG_F received an email from the district foresters - asking for help. What's going on in the Deister? Reporter Han gets on his mountain bike and meets forest rangers and mountain bikers on legal and illegal routes. And then it’s Father’s Day too.
"I think the Taliban are good," says Noor Mohamad Schams. He is the grandfather of STRG_F reporter Mariam Noori. The new rulers have ended corruption and brought security. An opinion
.. show full overview
"I think the Taliban are good," says Noor Mohamad Schams. He is the grandfather of STRG_F reporter Mariam Noori. The new rulers have ended corruption and brought security. An opinion that surprises his granddaughter, because her grandfather used to be a Taliban -Opponents. She wants to understand why people side with the Taliban, like her own grandfather. She travels through Afghanistan with her colleague Armin Ghassim for about three weeks. The result is a CTRL_F epic. A story about people who are for and are against the Taliban. About the big world politics behind it, which shaped the views of people like Mariam's grandfather. And about Mariam's family history, which is closely linked to the history of Afghanistan. The authors Mariam Noori, Armin Ghassim and Zita Zengerling try to find out why the Taliban came back to power and people came to terms with them...
She was born in Neumünster, grew up in a refugee home, her parents come from Mali - and today she is making history. Aminata Touré is the first black female minister in Germany. And
.. show full overview
She was born in Neumünster, grew up in a refugee home, her parents come from Mali - and today she is making history. Aminata Touré is the first black female minister in Germany. And guess what? Our reporter Aimen and his colleague Johannes had the feeling three years ago that something big could happen to her. That's when they started following Aminata Touré with the camera. At election campaign appointments, in the Kiel state parliament, when she became the Green Party's top candidate in Schleswig-Holstein. Aimen and Johannes followed her every step of the way - right up to her position as Minister for Social Affairs, Health, Family, Integration and much more. Here is her film.
Nurses throw things down in rows. One in three nurses have thought about quitting in the past year. STRG_F has launched a call: Who is planning to quit their job in nursing? Within a
.. show full overview
Nurses throw things down in rows. One in three nurses have thought about quitting in the past year. STRG_F has launched a call: Who is planning to quit their job in nursing? Within a short period of time, more than 150 nurses got in touch. STRG_F invited eight of them for an interview. Why do they want to leave their jobs in the clinics? They say they are being burned to death, have no time for their patients, and the conditions in the hospitals are inhumane. “It was a continuous process of putting out fires that were breaking out everywhere,” reports an intensive care nurse. The STRG_F reporters Isabel and Désirée about the nursing shortage and its consequences for all of us.
2022x26
Strength training - How dangerous is incorrect training?
Episode overview
STRG_F reporter Sulaiman has been doing strength training for 5 years. He actually thought he was training properly. But a little impropriety crept in during the deadlift. He was too
.. show full overview
STRG_F reporter Sulaiman has been doing strength training for 5 years. He actually thought he was training properly. But a little impropriety crept in during the deadlift. He was too hollow in his back. The result: Sulaiman almost had a herniated disc. He had to go to physical therapy. Since then he has been intensively concerned with the question “how do you train correctly?”. And since then I've seen people training dangerously everywhere. In fact, many doctors and sports scientists are also concerned. The fitness industry is booming, over 9 million people are members of a studio - but many do not receive sufficient instruction in strength training. With dangerous consequences.
Warning: This film deals with the themes of violence against women and femicide. If you feel uncomfortable with these topics, please do not watch the film alone. You can find information
.. show full overview
Warning: This film deals with the themes of violence against women and femicide. If you feel uncomfortable with these topics, please do not watch the film alone. You can find information about offers of help in the description below. Constanze and Patrick met on Tinder in 2017, fell in love and moved in together. When the two get together, she is 25 and he is 30. Less than two years later, on April 26, 2019, he shoots her. Constanze is one of 117 women who were killed by their partner or ex-partner in 2019. Her mother believes her daughter's death could have been prevented. Can that really be? In this film, CTRL_F reporters Inga and Laura take us on a research trip and try to find out exactly that. We are talking to Constanze's friends, lawyers and the court.
US drones kill suspected terrorists around the world as part of the “war on terror”. But they also hit innocent people again and again. In collaboration with the ARD magazine Panorama,
.. show full overview
US drones kill suspected terrorists around the world as part of the “war on terror”. But they also hit innocent people again and again. In collaboration with the ARD magazine Panorama, STRG_F traced in detail how Afghan children were killed by a drone's rocket due to a mistake. In many cases, the US base in Ramstein, Germany, is involved. The Greens have criticized this practice for years as a breach of international law and have called on the government to take action in motions. But now, even in power, they shy away from the once clear words. For this report, STRG_F reporter Armin traveled to the various locations of the drone war: to the Afghan province of Wardak, where drones have shaped everyday life for years. To Nevada, where the pilots control the US drones. And to the Palatinate, to Ramstein, the central location for data analysis and transmission.
Auf TikTok hat sich eine Drogenszene entwickelt, die bereits Kinder anspricht. Sie zeigen sich mit riesigen Pupillen im Rausch. Manche Clips bekommen tausende oder zehntausende Likes.
.. show full overview
Auf TikTok hat sich eine Drogenszene entwickelt, die bereits Kinder anspricht. Sie zeigen sich mit riesigen Pupillen im Rausch. Manche Clips bekommen tausende oder zehntausende Likes. Minderjährige tauschen auf TikTok nicht nur ihre Erfahrungen aus, sondern kommen hier auch an synthetische Betäubungsmittel. Die Szene dreht sich vor allem um Ecstasy, aber auch Speed, Crystal Meth und Heroin werden konsumiert. „Also es triggert schon krass, wenn man dort Leute sieht, die große Pupillen haben oder die darüber sprechen“, erzählt eine 17-Jährige Konsumentin. Die Reporterinnen Isabell und Désirée beobachten, wie sich die Jugendlichen ganz offen auf der Plattform mit Dealer:innen vernetzen und machen den Selbstversuch: Wie leicht kommt man hier an Betäubungsmittel? Und wie kann es überhaupt sein, dass diese Szene auf TikTok so groß ist?
Women in Afghanistan. Their rights have always been contested. But with the Taliban coming to power in August 2021, the few freedoms they fought for are in danger of finally
.. show full overview
Women in Afghanistan. Their rights have always been contested. But with the Taliban coming to power in August 2021, the few freedoms they fought for are in danger of finally disappearing. After the Taliban invaded, we immediately wanted to go and see what was changing for women. Since it was initially too dangerous, local journalists filmed for us and met very courageous women who spoke openly: a driving instructor, a journalist and a few more. What is life like under the Taliban? What is it like as a woman? What is actually allowed? What not? And how do women today, a year later, view their lives under the Taliban? We tell the stories of women who wage a quiet but stoic fight so that they are not forgotten, so that they do not become invisible.
The Telegram messenger makes a big promise: your user data is safe. According to its own information, Telegram does not cooperate with anyone - especially not with governments and
.. show full overview
The Telegram messenger makes a big promise: your user data is safe. According to its own information, Telegram does not cooperate with anyone - especially not with governments and security authorities. That's why the messenger is particularly popular with members of the opposition, but also with terrorists and drug traffickers. Until now, little was known about one of the most popular messengers in the world with 700 million users. The founder Pavel Durov has gone into hiding - only communicates via his own Telegram channel and Instagram. His company is like a black box. There is only a letterbox company hidden behind the address. CTRL_F Reporters Nino and Milan, talk to confidants, travel to Dubai and find the secret office. In addition, STRG_F's research makes it clear: Telegram does cooperate with the federal government.
2022x32
Poor equipment, hardly any ammunition: Ex-Foreign Legionnaire reports.
Episode overview
Volunteers from Germany and other countries are fighting in Ukraine. Ready to stand up to the Russian troops at the front for a foreign country. Ready to plunge into the horror of war.
.. show full overview
Volunteers from Germany and other countries are fighting in Ukraine. Ready to stand up to the Russian troops at the front for a foreign country. Ready to plunge into the horror of war. Six months ago we at STRG_F accompanied German fighters who were preparing for their war mission. Some have not even been accepted into the Foreign Legion, some are still in Ukraine and others are already back in Germany. One of them is Pascal, who we said goodbye to at the Berlin long-distance bus station six months ago with his own war equipment. Pascal contacted us after his return and would like to tell us about his experiences in Ukraine. How is he now? And did his plan to help Ukraine work? So much in advance: Pascal has experienced a lot of bad things.
2022x33
Rose quartz, Gua Sha, crystals: Child labor for beauty?
Episode overview
“Crystals” have become a mass phenomenon: jade for more courage, amethyst for better concentration, rose quartz for love and against wrinkles. What international stars and influencers
.. show full overview
“Crystals” have become a mass phenomenon: jade for more courage, amethyst for better concentration, rose quartz for love and against wrinkles. What international stars and influencers exemplify has long since arrived as a beauty product in drugstores. But what is expected to be beauty and spirituality in Europe is less glamorous in Madagascar, one of the mining countries. Here the rose quartz is taken out of the ground with bare hands under the most difficult conditions. 80 percent of Malagasy jewelry and gemstones are mined by hand rather than by machines. The reporters Nadja Mitzkat and Zita Zengerling went on a search: From Tiktok and Insta, to the mines in Madagascar and back to a German politician.
In Altötting, Bavaria, people are no longer allowed to donate blood to others because it is toxic. You have too much PFAS in your blood. A factory on the outskirts of town worked with
.. show full overview
In Altötting, Bavaria, people are no longer allowed to donate blood to others because it is toxic. You have too much PFAS in your blood. A factory on the outskirts of town worked with these chemicals. These found their way into the surrounding soil and thus into the groundwater. PFAS are used to produce a wide variety of products with a “non-stick effect”: outdoor clothing, cosmetics, baking paper, artificial turf, dental floss and much more. Even if the products themselves are hardly dangerous when used correctly, problems arise during production and disposal. PFAS are suspected of causing serious illnesses. The EU is considering a ban on the group of substances. CTRL_F reporter Johannes has his blood tested. Does he also have PFAS in his blood? And is that a cause for concern?
2022x35
After peeping Tom videos in court: The mysterious world of Tim R.
Episode overview
Danger! This film is about sexual violence and child sexual abuse! Two years ago, STRG_F reporter Patrizia Schlosser researched perpetrators who secretly film women in the toilet and
.. show full overview
Danger! This film is about sexual violence and child sexual abuse! Two years ago, STRG_F reporter Patrizia Schlosser researched perpetrators who secretly film women in the toilet and upload videos of them to porn sites. Tim R., one of the perpetrators who was uncovered through the research, is now on trial - but not just because of his peeping Tom videos. The investigation revealed that Tim R. also made videos of child sexual abuse. The perpetrator profile, which was apparently clear, once again raises questions. While Patrizia documents the trial, new research begins: Who is Tim R. and why did he commit these crimes?
Mein Kampf”, “The Toadstool”, “The Auschwitz Lie”: The Nazi publisher “Der Schelm” sells books full of incitement and anti-Semitism. Two years ago, STRG_F conducted extensive research to
.. show full overview
Mein Kampf”, “The Toadstool”, “The Auschwitz Lie”: The Nazi publisher “Der Schelm” sells books full of incitement and anti-Semitism. Two years ago, STRG_F conducted extensive research to find out who was supposedly behind the brown shipping. After the film there were raids, arrests and seizures. The Federal Prosecutor's Office, Germany's top prosecutor, has now taken over the investigation against five people. The accusation: founding and/or membership in a criminal organization. STRG_F reporters Timo, Julian and Sebastian ask themselves: Does this mean “The Rogue” is history?
For months, messages and reports about needle spiking have been accumulating - a phenomenon in which people are presumably pricked with a needle without their knowledge. Some sufferers
.. show full overview
For months, messages and reports about needle spiking have been accumulating - a phenomenon in which people are presumably pricked with a needle without their knowledge. Some sufferers report total crashes when going out, as if they had been injected with drugs. Others don't notice anything at first, but then find strange wounds on their body the next morning, which they attribute to needle pricks. There are now thousands of cases of suspected affected people across Europe. But so far neither the perpetrators of these incidents have been found nor evidence such as syringes or drug substances recovered. Is needle spiking even a real danger? STRG_F reporters Milan Panek and Patrizia Schlosser went on a Europe-wide search for the background, researched possible evidence and looked for perpetrators.
Some time ago, STRG_F reporter Gunnar Krupp uploaded a photo of himself. And then the madness began: Suddenly his picture appeared everywhere. On billboards, articles and Tinder
.. show full overview
Some time ago, STRG_F reporter Gunnar Krupp uploaded a photo of himself. And then the madness began: Suddenly his picture appeared everywhere. On billboards, articles and Tinder profiles. In the third part of the report he looks at the latest results and asks himself for the first time: Are all these websites and editorial teams allowed to use his photo? An entertaining piece in these dark times!
Research into our genetic blueprint has incredible potential: In this film, the reporter meets a six-year-old boy in Kiel who was born almost blind. Thanks to gene therapy, he can now
.. show full overview
Research into our genetic blueprint has incredible potential: In this film, the reporter meets a six-year-old boy in Kiel who was born almost blind. Thanks to gene therapy, he can now see again. If doctors find the exact error in the DNA, doctors can treat the disease specifically. CTRL_F Reporter Mirco himself also benefits from this. Thanks to the discovery of a human geneticist from Belgium, he lives with leukemia without any major restrictions. Genetic engineering is probably one of the most powerful weapons in modern medicine. But where does this leave us if many diseases are wiped out like this? Will we grow old forever? In the USA they are researching this on a large scale. The lifespan of mice can already be extended today and visionaries like Aubrey de Gray believe that the first human being will be born to live to be 1000 years old. Also because people may soon be born who no longer get any hereditary diseases.
The fraudster deceives his victims into believing that they are in love, at some point invents a plight and ultimately exploits them. So far, so classic. But unlike in many other
.. show full overview
The fraudster deceives his victims into believing that they are in love, at some point invents a plight and ultimately exploits them. So far, so classic. But unlike in many other examples, the suspected perpetrator in our case does not have a fake profile, he is not a bot either, he has a name and face. Magnus R. is said to have cheated many people out of a lot of money. However, the victims' reports lead nowhere. The investigations against Magnus R. are discontinued. Among other things, because he couldn't be found. STRG_F reporter Lenja is looking for him for this film where he is apparently looking for new victims. On a dating platform. This time Magnus R. falls into the trap himself. He has no idea that he is chatting with a journalist. Will he pull the same scam with Lenja? Or will he be careless and reveal his whereabouts to her?
Anna has been stalked by her ex-husband for years. He threatens her, sends her hate messages and even causes her to lose her job through fake reviews on Google. The case has been with
.. show full overview
Anna has been stalked by her ex-husband for years. He threatens her, sends her hate messages and even causes her to lose her job through fake reviews on Google. The case has been with the public prosecutor's office for years, but they apparently can't do anything against the stalker because the man can't be found and he can't be found at his last registered address. In this way, the stalker can continue and even expand the circle of his victims over the years. In the case of Merle's stalker, investigative authorities also appear to be powerless. After living in fear of her stalker for five years, she finally had to make sure he ended up in court - by finding out that one of the pseudonyms the stalker used was also the name on his doorbell. Here too, the responsible public prosecutor's office declared the perpetrator untraceable - even though information about the perpetrator was available to them.
Towards a green future with an electric SUV? 300 HP and a clear conscience? Or just a trick to sell more cars? CTRL_F Reporter Nadia, Simon, Stefan and Lisa want to know how green the
.. show full overview
Towards a green future with an electric SUV? 300 HP and a clear conscience? Or just a trick to sell more cars? CTRL_F Reporter Nadia, Simon, Stefan and Lisa want to know how green the electric car really is - and encounter many questions and doubts. How the rights of indigenous people in Argentina are apparently being ignored and an already dry region could dry out even further, just so that we can carry on as before without a guilty conscience. Because: a real change in transport was missed and, like here, almost everything revolves around cars.
At the end of August, a 20-year-old died after an illegal rave in Cologne. Parts of the Secret Rave scene are shocked. Discussions quickly arise that the 20-year-old was not helped in
.. show full overview
At the end of August, a 20-year-old died after an illegal rave in Cologne. Parts of the Secret Rave scene are shocked. Discussions quickly arise that the 20-year-old was not helped in time and there was hesitation in calling the emergency number. And many say that the scene has changed and has become more dangerous. STRG_F reporters Kim Eckert and Isabell Beer set out to find out: What happened that evening? And what does it stand for? For the research, they talk to visitors, organizers and go to two secret raves themselves to get an idea of the scene. The question: Is partying more important to some people than a human life?
For a long time, Ganesha didn't know that her grandfather was exhibited in so-called "national shows". There is a black and white photo of her grandfather on her wall. It was only on a
.. show full overview
For a long time, Ganesha didn't know that her grandfather was exhibited in so-called "national shows". There is a black and white photo of her grandfather on her wall. It was only on a trip to his homeland of Sri Lanka that she found out about his story. That as a 16-year-old he was shipped to Europe with an elephant with the prospect of a prosperous life and finally had to perform as an exotic elephant rider in the Hamburg zoo “Tierpark Hagenbeck”. “People’s Shows” were a crowd puller. Crowds watched the racist production of the “savages”, the Tierra del Fuegos, the “cannibals from the South Seas”. STRG_F reporter Mirco and his colleague have been researching the colonial past of the famous Hamburg zoo for more than a year. You met descendants of those exhibited here. These call for a processing of history and clarification. Why are those responsible today finding it so difficult to face history?
2022x45
Controversial police operation: What are the police allowed to do?
Episode overview
Berlin, September 9, 2022, in the Alt-Hohenschönhausen district. A patrol car pulls up to an apartment building. The Syrian Al-Hamwi family lives there. The father drove three times
.. show full overview
Berlin, September 9, 2022, in the Alt-Hohenschönhausen district. A patrol car pulls up to an apartment building. The Syrian Al-Hamwi family lives there. The father drove three times without a ticket and was caught. Because he didn't pay the fine, there is now an arrest warrant against him. Two police officers ring the bell. They want him to pay - otherwise they would take him away. What follows was secretly filmed by his wife on his cell phone. An excerpt from it went through all the networks and was hotly discussed. Some said it was too brutal, inappropriate, racist - everything was fine, the police were being unfairly pilloried again, said others. We analyzed the full video together with police officers and experts.
2022x46
Season finale
After arrests: images of abuse continue to appear online
Episode overview
At the end of November, special forces stormed an apartment in Saxony. A 21-year-old is said to have been the main administrator of three global darknet platforms on which pedo-criminal
.. show full overview
At the end of November, special forces stormed an apartment in Saxony. A 21-year-old is said to have been the main administrator of three global darknet platforms on which pedo-criminal content was exchanged. The Federal Criminal Police Office reports: three platforms shut down, three men arrested in Germany, one in Brazil. But was this a successful strike against pedo criminals? On the one hand: yes. But on the other hand: Research by STRG_F reporters Daniel and Robert shows that copies of the forums are already in circulation and images and videos can still be accessed. The successor platform is also already in the starting blocks. Is the authorities' strategy successful?
If there are missing episodes or banners (and they exist on TheTVDB) you can request an automatic full show update:
Request show update
Update requested