Die Story im Ersten
Season 2025
German news and documentary program that aired on "WDR television" as "Die Story" and on "Das Erste" as "Die Story im Ersten."
Where to Watch Die Story im Ersten • Season 2025
30 Episodes
- Sabotage: Germany in Putin’s Crosshairs
E9Sabotage: Germany in Putin’s CrosshairsDHL parcels explode, assassination plots are uncovered, internet cables are damaged, and German naval vessels are suddenly disabled: since the war in Ukraine began, hardly a day has passed without reports of new acts of sabotage and espionage that Western intelligence agencies attribute to Russia. An investigative report by WDR, NDR, and Süddeutsche Zeitung reveals the strategies and methods behind the most recent sabotage operations. This documentary was produced in 2025. All statements and facts reflect the information available at that time and have not been updated since. - Erdogan's Fight Against the Kurds - With German Aid Workers in Northern Syria
E10Erdogan's Fight Against the Kurds - With German Aid Workers in Northern SyriaAs the ARD team enters a completely destroyed house in northern Syria, drones can be heard overhead. A nine-member Kurdish family was killed here in mid-March in a drone strike. Relatives claim it was a combat drone operated by Turkey. ARD correspondent Matthias Ebert sets out to investigate and search for evidence. He accompanies German doctor Michael Wilk through northeastern Syria and repeatedly experiences drone strikes and shelling by militias. According to observers, the targets include water facilities, power substations, and even a dam in this oil-rich region. Kurds believe the attacks are carried out by NATO member Turkey. Are these Kurdish propaganda claims, or is there evidence to support them? The documentary examines these allegations on the ground. It also explores what Erdogan’s conflict with the Kurds could mean for Germany and Europe: What happens if Islamist groups regain control? And how could Germany help prevent that? - Inside the Cyber Mafia - Love.Like.Lost
E11Inside the Cyber Mafia - Love.Like.LostAttractive profile pictures, affectionate messages: who would question it when true love or big money suddenly seems just a click away online? But what happens when a dream relationship turns into a nightmare? When familiar chats suddenly become ruthless blackmail, and an entire life savings disappears? Experts warn that never before have social media and dating platforms been used so extensively for manipulation and criminal purposes. This investigative ARD Story offers disturbing insights and makes clear just how close this threat really is. - School Dropouts - Already Left Behind in Primary School?
E12School Dropouts - Already Left Behind in Primary School?In 2023, a headline made news: 37 first-graders at Gräfenau Primary School in Ludwigshafen had to repeat the year - nearly one in three children. What seems like an isolated case is part of an alarming trend: fewer and fewer children master the basic skills needed to succeed in first grade. Some struggle with language, others cannot even hold a pencil. More than 25 years after the PISA shock, the importance of early childhood education is well known. This documentary follows a first-grade class exclusively over the course of a school year. It shows children struggling with language difficulties, teachers and educators reaching the limits of the system, and support programs repeatedly failing. The film also asks what is needed to improve the transition between kindergarten and school, and searches for solutions to prevent children from being left behind already in primary school. - The Tanker Trail: Who Will Stop Russia's Shadow Fleet?
E13The Tanker Trail: Who Will Stop Russia's Shadow Fleet?In shipping circles, they are known as “rust buckets” - an estimated several hundred aging oil tankers that make up the so-called Russian shadow fleet. Suspected of violating EU sanctions, these vessels continue to transport hazardous cargo through the Baltic Sea every day, including along Germany's coastline. Their operations help finance Russia's war effort. Yet the fleet has also proven profitable for other players in the global market. In this ARD Story, NDR journalists Lennart Banholzer and Simon Hoyme investigate locations around the world to explore why Western governments have so far failed to bring the shadow fleet under effective control. - Sushi Cravings - The Hidden Costs of a Lifestyle Trend
E14Sushi Cravings - The Hidden Costs of a Lifestyle TrendSushi is everywhere. Once an expensive gourmet meal for affluent diners, it has become a global fast-food phenomenon. Whether from an Asian takeaway or a supermarket grab-and-go box, sushi is seen as trendy, low in calories, healthy, and affordable. But the enormous demand for sushi comes with consequences. This ARD investigation follows the supply chains of salmon and tuna, the two most popular sushi ingredients. The reporters' journey takes them from contested tuna fishing grounds in the Indian Ocean and vast salmon aquaculture facilities in Northern Europe to massive industrial seafood-processing plants, uncovering the environmental and economic challenges behind one of the world's favorite foods. - In the Crosshairs of the Grey Wolves
E15In the Crosshairs of the Grey WolvesThe “wolf salute” made by Turkish football player Merih Demiral at the 2024 European Championship drew attention to the far-right movement known as the Grey Wolves. These Turkish ultranationalists spread hatred and anti-democratic ideology in Germany. They seek to indoctrinate children and young people in schools, cultural associations, and sports clubs, deliberately build contacts with local politicians, and maintain close ties to organized crime. Germany’s domestic intelligence service has been monitoring the Grey Wolves for years. Their ideology poses a threat to democracy - in German cities and municipalities - often unnoticed, but highly dangerous. - Paved Over! How Can We Protect Our Cities from Heat Collapse?
E16Paved Over! How Can We Protect Our Cities from Heat Collapse?Germany is struggling under rising heat, and every day another 50 hectares of cooling green space disappear under asphalt and concrete. The ongoing warming and sealing of urban areas continues unchecked, bringing significant health risks. - Digital Powerlessness - Germany Under Big Tech's Spell
E17Digital Powerlessness - Germany Under Big Tech's SpellGermany and Europe have lost control in the digital sphere. US platforms such as X, Facebook, and Instagram determine what people see and discuss. Yet they are not democratically accountable. Now, tech billionaires are also merging with the Trump administration to form a new power elite. The documentary reconstructs the political and economic missteps of past decades and explores possible solutions. - Soldier No. 1 - The General and the 'Zeitenwende'
E18Soldier No. 1 - The General and the 'Zeitenwende'It has been repeatedly reported for months that Russia is preparing for a major conflict with NATO. Carsten Breuer, Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, is as Germany’s highest-ranking soldier one of the most prominent voices warning that Russia could be ready for a military confrontation with the West within just a few years. How is the Bundeswehr preparing for this potential threat? What role does the Inspector General play in this process? ARD journalists Willem Konrad and Lucas Stratmann were granted exclusive access to accompany Carsten Breuer for nine months - including meetings with Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and trips to southern Lebanon, Ukraine, and the United States. The result is a portrait of the German armed forces’ top military advisor, offering rare insights into the country’s security apparatus. - Shut Up, Bitch! - The Battle Over Masculinity
E19Shut Up, Bitch! - The Battle Over MasculinityHow does a young person become drawn into misogynistic online ideologies? This ARD documentary explores a network of YouTubers, influencers, and TikTok channels that reach millions of young men with aggressive rhetoric about masculinity. The film follows two young people whose lives and political views are fundamentally changed by the content of this parallel online world, revealing the powerful dynamics at work within these networks. Their reach is driven not only by algorithms that amplify such content, but also by economic interests and political strategy. The documentary shows how misogynistic narratives are deliberately used in election campaigns - and why they pose a growing threat to gender equality and democracy. - The Lord of the Barrels - The Asse Nuclear Disaster
E20The Lord of the Barrels - The Asse Nuclear DisasterThe Asse nuclear waste repository represents one of the biggest scandals in Germany's nuclear history, even though it was once seen as a beacon of hope for the country's nuclear industry. But the mountain behaves unpredictably, turning the plan for a final disposal site into a nuclear fiasco: the Asse mine is filling with water. This raises scenarios that are deeply concerning. Can the radioactive barrels still be recovered? Will the waste site have to be deliberately flooded? This ARD Story tells the story from the perspective of a responsible engineer fighting against time - and illustrates the full complexity of Germany's nuclear waste debate. - Suffering on Four Paws - Are We Breeding Our Pets to the Point of Illness?
E21Suffering on Four Paws - Are We Breeding Our Pets to the Point of Illness?Despite Germany’s animal welfare law prohibiting the breeding of vertebrates with harmful genetic defects, more than 50 dog breeds, a dozen cat breeds, as well as guinea pigs, rabbits, and ornamental birds are affected by so-called extreme breeding traits. An ARD Story uncovers violations at dog shows, documenting how breeds with known welfare issues are still exhibited and awarded prizes despite restrictions. A covert SWR report also reveals the sale of expensive Pomeranian puppies without proper screening of their parents for hereditary diseases. - My Bunker, My Gun, My Distrust – How Seriously Does the State Take Us?
E22My Bunker, My Gun, My Distrust – How Seriously Does the State Take Us?Many Germans feel that the state does not adequately protect them from war, terrorism, cyberattacks, natural disasters, and organized crime. Where can people turn for medical help or phone power in an emergency? Who ensures their safety? The ARD Story gives voice to both sides: concerned citizens and the representatives of existing and planned aid and protection services. - The Netanyahus: A Family at War
E23The Netanyahus: A Family at WarHow does one become Israel’s longest-serving prime minister - and how does the Netanyahu family shape the country’s political landscape? This documentary explores the history and influence of the Netanyahu family and their role in Israeli politics. - Stalled: How Ford Is Getting Left Behind
E25Stalled: How Ford Is Getting Left BehindThe Cologne-based car manufacturer Ford, currently one of the city’s largest employers with around 11,500 staff, is in deep crisis. The good times - when more than 50,000 people worked here and bestsellers like the Ford Fiesta were produced - are long gone. This film was produced in 2025. All statements and facts reflect the situation at that time and have not been updated since. - Crash Course for Property Sharks
E26Crash Course for Property SharksHe is every tenant’s nightmare: the ruthless real estate investor. In this ARD Story actor Matthias Matschke takes on the role of a profit-driven property speculator. Together with an assistant and a fast car, he enters the world of real estate investors, tests the limits of the market, and meets consultants who use devious tactics to get rid of tenants. - Syria: Struggle for the Future
E27Syria: Struggle for the FutureOne year after the fall of Assad, people across the country are fighting for their future. After more than ten years in Germany, Mohammed Shakir returns with his family to a village near Damascus. But how can a new start in Syria succeed, especially for children born in Germany? The film follows people who, amid ruins and new beginnings, struggle for justice and a future of their own. - The Hip Missionaries: Jesus Against Freedom?
E28The Hip Missionaries: Jesus Against Freedom?They fill convention halls with pop music and perfectly staged shows. Hundreds of thousands like their posts: so-called charismatic renewal movements that specifically target young people. But behind the trendy Instagram façade, more conservative to reactionary messages also emerge. Over the course of two years, authors Andreas Herz and Ralph Gladitz investigated the charismatic renewal scene, gaining exclusive insight into its inner workings. - Economy Under Stress Test: One Year Among Small and Medium-Sized Businesses
E29Economy Under Stress Test: One Year Among Small and Medium-Sized BusinessesThey manufacture precision technology in Waldbrunn, Balingen, and Lübeck, fire porcelain in Thuringia, or harvest wine in the Palatinate. Many of their companies have been family-owned for generations. Compared to large corporations, they receive less political attention, yet they are widely regarded as the backbone of the German economy. In 2025, they faced the same challenges both at home and on the global market: a downturn, if not recession, domestically, along with a fierce tariff war with the United States under President Donald Trump, their often most important export market. - Dec 22E30
Commuter Stress: A Nation on the MoveTwenty million people commute to work every day, trying to keep their nerves intact in cars or on trains. Stefan Hoch is one of them. At five in the morning, he leaves his detached house in Wittenberge and gets into his car. By the time he arrives at work around eight, he has already spent three hours traveling. After the workday, he sets off again in the opposite direction. Fourteen hours after leaving home, he is back again - only to repeat the same routine the next morning. Five days a week: a life constantly on the move.
