From DW Documentary. Tradition, chaos, constant upheaval: This is Istanbul. Some 16 million people live in this crowded city on the Bosporus. For many, it is a center of creativity. For others, a place that swallows them up. At night, the major changes that the megacity is currently undergoing become apparent: The economic crisis is…

From DW Documentary. Sascha needs an organ transplant. But to get a spot on the waiting list, he first needs to regain weight – a significant challenge in his current condition. His case is not unique. In Germany, more than 8,000 people are currently waiting for an organ donation. Demand far exceeds supply. In 2023,…

From DW Documentary. The reputation of the French Foreign Legion is both legendary and notorious. Every day, men from all over the world come to the legion’s barracks in Aubagne. Often, they’re looking for a second chance in life. But they have no idea what awaits them. Since 1831, the Légion étrangère, or Foreign Legion,…

From DW Documentary. Lithium is an essential raw material for electric car batteries. Europe is completely dependent on imports. Demand is so high that plans are now underway to develop Europe’s own lithium deposits. But can this be done sustainably? The expansion of electromobility has made lithium a raw material of strategic importance. Global demand…

From DW Documentary. Since 2006, Mexico’s drug war has claimed over 400,000 lives, and more than 125,000 people still missing. The cartels’ influence can extend to the country’s institutions, leaving ordinary people trapped in fear and without trust in those meant to protect them. Watch the full documentary “Mexico: War of the drug cartels” on…

From DW Documentary. An increasing number of Indonesian imams are calling on the faithful to protect nature and save the world. This new movement preaching environmentalism originates in one of the largest mosques in the world, in Jakarta. But just how credible is this movement? And how effective? Fatwas against logging, sermons about safeguarding the…

From DW Documentary. Spain’s housing crisis: How Ángela Mendoza could turn evictions into a lucrative business model. Spain is in the grip of a massive housing crisis and unauthorized settling sharply on the rise. Ángela Mendoza has found an unconventional way to return apartments back to the their owners. Mendoza used to be a flamenco…

From DW Documentary. They eat and reproduce at record speed – calico crayfish. In its quest for more information about the species, this report finds tens of thousands of crayfish in just one pool along the upper Rhine River. Can this invasive creature still be stopped? The last remaining habitats of amphibians and dragonflies are…

From DW Documentary. The hunt for the assets of the former East Germany’s ruling party has the hallmarks of a thriller. There are dubious characters, bags of cash, and key witnesses who suddenly die. At its heart is the question: How do you stash away 6 billion marks? After the fall of the Berlin Wall,…

From DW Documentary. It’s been almost 10 years since the Brexit referendum, when the UK voted to leave the European Union. After six prime ministers – including currently serving Keir Starmer – the country still struggles with the aftermath. Many voters now regret their decision to leave the EU and accuse pro-Brexit advocates like Boris…

From DW Documentary. Around the world, extreme fires have been on the rise since the turn of the millennium. In 2023 alone, 26 million hectares of forest were burned. Scientists and indigenous communities are both searching for ways to stop the destruction. In many parts of the world, fires were once a natural phenomenon. Periodic…

From DW Documentary. Brandon Scott, a young black politician, was elected mayor of Baltimore in 2020. It was a turbulent time: the city’s crime rate was high, and there were mass protests in response to the police killings of George Floyd and other Black Americans. Scott, a reformer and idealist, grew up in Baltimore at…

From DW Documentary. Many women feel unsafe in public spaces, whether on streets, at train stations, or in parks. The danger they face overwhelmingly comes from men: Ninety-five percent of sexualized violence in public spaces is committed by them. Yanni Gentsch was jogging in a forest in Cologne when she suddenly noticed a stranger filming…

From DW Documentary. Every year, millions of people around the world get sick from invasive fungal infections. Treating them can sometimes take months, or even years. The problem is that fungi are versatile organisms that can adapt quickly to our medications. This is made even worse by the fact that the same medications are indispensable…

From DW Documentary. Each year in Germany, more than half a million people are diagnosed with cancer. But the disease is no longer necessarily a death sentence. Medical advances and ideas for new therapies offer fresh hope to those affected. Jeppe was just three years old when he was diagnosed with a particularly severe form…

From DW Documentary. Only 10% of global transplant needs are met, that’s why scientists are exploring xenotransplantation, the use of animal organs for humans. Some countries have switched to “opt-out” donation systems, where everyone is a potential donor unless they say otherwise, but studies show that policy changes alone aren’t enough. Real progress also depends…

From DW Documentary. Since the Republic of Moldova was granted EU accession candidate status in 2022, the long-forgotten region has once again become the focus of geopolitical power games. While the Moldovan capital Chişinău tends to pursue a more pro-European course, many people in Transnistria cling to Russia – despite problems like Transnistria’s deep poverty.…

From DW Documentary. The combat school in the rainforest. It‘s one of the toughest training programs run by the Foreign Legion. In the 3rd Regiment, legionnaires and the special units of friendly armies are trained under particularly harsh conditions. The soldiers camp in the rainforest, food is rationed and there are no sanitary facilities. Unconditional…

From DW Documentary. Shepherds in the Alps have been guiding their sheep through the mountains for 6,000 years. They have to climb 3,000 meters and cross rivers and glaciers. Known as Alpine transhumance, this tradition has been recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. With 1,400 sheep, Markus and his colleagues make the…

From DW Documentary. Many children and teenagers spend hours every day on Instagram, TikTok or other platforms. More and more families and schools are setting clear boundaries to counter the constant distraction of social media. Studies have linked excessive smartphone use to depression, anxiety, and difficulties concentrating. This documentary follows several families and schools that…

From DW Documentary. Ruth Bopp has been suffering from an incurable lung disease for years. She can no longer breathe freely. A donor organ is finally found. The film shows the beginning of her new life. Her struggle, her happiness, and her setbacks. Ruth Bopp will never forget October 20, 2023. At 3:50 a.m., the…

From DW Documentary. Sexual violence is a well-known weapon of war. One that is deployed against men, as well as women. The enemy is not killed, but destroyed nonetheless. In this documentary, men from Ukraine, Congo and Bosnia break their silence. Most male survivors of sexual violence remain silent. So the perpetrators get away with…

From DW Documentary. Sexual violence and misogyny are part of everyday life for many women in India. But an increasing number are breaking the silence and fighting for respect and their rights – with words, music and physical strength. Activist Usha Vishwakarma trains women in the art of self-defense. Many members of her “Red Brigade”…

From DW Documentary. Does the Russian secret service have a file on US President Donald Trump? To what extent are Russian interests present within American foreign policy? And – could there be a connection between the answers to these two questions? US President Donald Trump has had ties to Russia for decades. In this documentary,…