Polizeiruf 110
Encyclopedia
Polizeiruf 110 is a long running German language
detective
television series. The first episode was broadcast 27 June 1971 in the German Democratic Republic
(GDR), and after the dissolution of Fernsehen der DDR the series was picked up by ARD
. It was originally created as a counterpart to the West German series Tatort
, and quickly became a public favorite.
In contrast with other television series, in which killings are practically the primary focus, while Polizeiruf handled homicide cases, the cases were more often the frequent and less serious crimes such as domestic violence
, extortion
, fraud
, theft
and juvenile delinquency
, as well as alcoholism
, child abuse
and rape
. Contrary to Tatort, which concentrated on the primary characters and their private lives, police procedure was the center of attention especially in the earlier episodes. The scriptwriters attached particular importance to representation of the criminal and his state of mind, as well as the context of the crime.
A 1974 episode based on the case of serial killer Erwin Hagedorn was banned by the politburo, which feared an uncomfortable public debate about the death penalty. A script and silent tape of the episode, thought lost, were rediscovered in 2011, and the sound was re-dubbed
for broadcast with new actors.
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
detective
Detective
A detective is an investigator, either a member of a police agency or a private person. The latter may be known as private investigators or "private eyes"...
television series. The first episode was broadcast 27 June 1971 in the German Democratic Republic
German Democratic Republic
The German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
(GDR), and after the dissolution of Fernsehen der DDR the series was picked up by ARD
ARD (broadcaster)
ARD is a joint organization of Germany's regional public-service broadcasters...
. It was originally created as a counterpart to the West German series Tatort
Tatort
Tatort is a long-running German/Austrian/Swiss , crime television series set in various parts of these countries. The show is broadcast on the channels of ARD in Germany, ORF 2 in Austria and SF1 in Switzerland...
, and quickly became a public favorite.
In contrast with other television series, in which killings are practically the primary focus, while Polizeiruf handled homicide cases, the cases were more often the frequent and less serious crimes such as domestic violence
Domestic violence
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
, extortion
Extortion
Extortion is a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime...
, fraud
Fraud
In criminal law, a fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual; the related adjective is fraudulent. The specific legal definition varies by legal jurisdiction. Fraud is a crime, and also a civil law violation...
, theft
Theft
In common usage, theft is the illegal taking of another person's property without that person's permission or consent. The word is also used as an informal shorthand term for some crimes against property, such as burglary, embezzlement, larceny, looting, robbery, shoplifting and fraud...
and juvenile delinquency
Juvenile delinquency
Juvenile delinquency is participation in illegal behavior by minors who fall under a statutory age limit. Most legal systems prescribe specific procedures for dealing with juveniles, such as juvenile detention centers. There are a multitude of different theories on the causes of crime, most if not...
, as well as alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
, child abuse
Child abuse
Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
and rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
. Contrary to Tatort, which concentrated on the primary characters and their private lives, police procedure was the center of attention especially in the earlier episodes. The scriptwriters attached particular importance to representation of the criminal and his state of mind, as well as the context of the crime.
A 1974 episode based on the case of serial killer Erwin Hagedorn was banned by the politburo, which feared an uncomfortable public debate about the death penalty. A script and silent tape of the episode, thought lost, were rediscovered in 2011, and the sound was re-dubbed
Dubbing (filmmaking)
Dubbing is the post-production process of recording and replacing voices on a motion picture or television soundtrack subsequent to the original shooting. The term most commonly refers to the substitution of the voices of the actors shown on the screen by those of different performers, who may be...
for broadcast with new actors.
Prominent cast members
- Peter BorgeltPeter BorgeltPeter Borgelt was a German television actor.Borgelt was best known for playing the character of Hauptmann Fuchs in the long running series Polizeiruf 110 between 1971 and 1991...
as Hauptmann, later Kriminalhauptkommissar Peter Fuchs (84 episodes, 1971–1991) - Jürgen Frohriep as Oberleutnant, later Kriminaloberkommissar Jürgen Hübner (68 episodes, 1972–1994)
- Sigrid Göhler as Leutnant Vera Arndt (49 episodes, 1971–2001)
- Wolfgang Winkler as Hauptkommissar Herbert Schneider (42 episodes, 1979–2007)
- Andreas Schmidt-Schaller as Leutnant, Oberleutnant, later Kriminaloberkommissar Thomas Grawe (40 episodes, 1973–2004)
- Jaecki Schwarz as Hauptkommissar Herbert Schmücke (together with Schneider) (38 episodes, 1987–2007)
- Lutz Riemann as Oberleutnant, later Kriminaloberkommissar Lutz Zimmermann (25 episodes, 1983–1991)
- Henry HübchenHenry HübchenHenry Hübchen is a German actor who played the title character in the award-winning 2004 film Go for Zucker. That performance earned him a Lola, Germany's equivalent of an Oscar and critical praise at home and abroad...
as Tobias Törner (13 episodes 1972-2005)