From DW Documentary. The plural of octopus isn’t “octopi,” it’s actually octopuses. But that’s far from the most fascinating thing about them. Octopuses are incredibly smart and well adapted for survival. They’ve been around for over 330 million years, long before dinosaurs roamed the Earth, giving them a huge evolutionary head start. Together with their…

From DW Documentary. Haiti gained independence from France in 1804 after a rebellion by the enslaved population. However, the French government forced the young state to make drastic financial reparations to its former colonists. On 1 January 1804, Haitian slaves achieved the unimaginable. They drove out the French colonists and declared their independence. Two centuries…

From DW Documentary. Gothic architecture emerged in France in the 12th century. This architectural style revolutionized church construction, creating cathedrals that soared skywards. But where did the knowledge and technology for building these monuments come from? Light floods the interiors of Gothic cathedrals, which have colorful windows instead of solid walls. All told, the windows…

From DW Documentary. Almost 40% of the planet is covered by natural grasslands. In places like the Alps, these landscapes are a "desert" for humans. Why? Because we can’t eat grass, and the steep slopes make plowing for crops impossible. Plowing here wouldn’t just be hard—it would trigger devastating soil erosion. This is where the…

From DW Documentary. Approximately 58,000 people are currently incarcerated in German prisons. Over half of them reoffend after their release. These statistics raise doubts about the prison system. Is something fundamentally wrong with German prisons? To understand what prison does to people, journalist Frank Seibert voluntarily goes to jail. For a few hours, a cell…

From DW Documentary. Dan Brown’s novel "The Da Vinci Code” is one of the century’s most successful thrillers worldwide. But how much truth is behind the claims made in the book – and what is pure fiction? The novel "The Da Vinci Code” by American author Dan Brown has sold around 80 million copies since…

From DW Documentary. A growing shift is reshaping Italy’s countryside. Data from the Italian farmers’ association shows that increasing numbers of young people are leaving cities behind to work in agriculture. Many of them are making a deliberate mid-career change. In the rugged hills of Genoa, Davide and Matteo are part of this movement. With…

From DW Documentary. Slovakia stands at a crossroads between western and eastern Europe – and not just in geographical terms. Amidst growing social and political divisions in the country, Prime Minister Robert Fico is using his power to amplify tensions and stir up fear. Once a mainstream Social Democrat, Robert Fico has reinvented himself as…

From DW Documentary. Before Earth existed, there was only dust and gas left behind by ancient stars. Over time, that material gathered together to form our planet. The same elements that once made those stars now make up most of our bodies – a quiet reminder of where we come from. #documentary #dwdocumentary #dwdocs #stars…

From DW Documentary. Octopus is considered a delicacy – grilled, boiled, or fried. But rising demand has consequences, and in several regions of Europe, this intelligent cephalopod is already considered overfished. Stocks are shrinking dramatically, especially in the Mediterranean. In Greece, illegal traps are often used for fishing. Together with the coast guard, the environmental…

From DW Documentary. Islamist terrorism continues to claim numerous victims worldwide. Extremist networks are financed in part by donations from Germany. But investigations often prove to be difficult. Money from Germany repeatedly finds its way into structures that support Islamist terror. This occurs via bank transfers, donation associations, online payment services, and even cryptocurrencies. Many…

From DW Documentary. Jérôme was sexually abused as a child. When he files a complaint against the former priest, he also picks up a camera. He then films the six years leading up to the trial. Jérôme combs his memories for clues. He confronts the complicity of those around him at the time. This is…

From DW Documentary. If you dominate EV battery manufacturing, you dominate electromobility. China is building one gigafactory after another, while Europe struggles with political uncertainty, lack of know-how, and large-scale projects that end up delayed or cancelled. This is the story of an industry that’s shaping the future. The EV battery is the core of…

From DW Documentary. Invasive species threaten flora and fauna and can destroy ecological balance. However, combating these dangerous invaders is costly and requires unusual measures. The EU list of invasive species includes 42 animal and 46 plant species. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has identified these unwanted intruders as one of six "climate killers,"…

From DW Documentary. The heart is the hardest-working muscle in our body. It works quietly and reliably, especially when we are young. It only warns us when it has no other choice. While diet and lifestyle are very important, our genes also influence the risk of heart issues. It is essential to listen to our…

From DW Documentary. The heart is the most unusual muscle in our body. It works tirelessly, begins beating in the womb and can even continue functioning when the brain fails. Yet, when we’re young, we barely pay any attention to it. 29-year-old twins Naomi and Joëlle Karfich are active, have healthy diets and feel fit.…

From DW Documentary. In the highlands of Ecuador, options for women are limited. Many work in the country’s dominant cut flower industry. In greenhouses, plants are sprayed frequently with toxic pesticides and workers report illness and long-term health risks. Other women who cannot work are financially dependent on their husbands’ wages. But agroecology workshops are…

From DW Documentary. The beaches of Zanzibar are heavenly. But there’s more to this paradise than white sand and turquoise water. The country is poor and the infrastructure is often inadequate. Nevertheless, people’s optimism is tangible. In this predominantly Muslim country, it’s common for men to take second and third wives, leaving their first wives…

From DW Documentary. Every new tsunami alert in Japan triggers traumatic memories of March 11, 2011 and fears of another nuclear meltdown. 15 years after a tsunami led to disaster at the Fukushima power plant, Japan is still dealing with the fallout. Hundreds of tons of radioactive debris are still stored at the Fukushima plant…

From DW Documentary. Artificial insemination has been a possibility for decades, yet some aspects of it are still being debated — including in Europe. Not least of those is whether there should be a limit on how many times a donor can give sperm. Hanna got pregnant while without a partner — through a sperm…

From DW Documentary. Sabine, Clais and Orm were children when their fathers were murdered. The killings, carried out by the far-left German terrorist group the Rote Armee Fraktion ("Red Army Faction”), or RAF, brought an abrupt, violent end to their childhoods. In this film, they share how terrorism changed their lives forever. May 2025 marked…

From DW Documentary. The current US opioid epidemic was fueled in what is known as the first wave by the overprescription of painkillers by pharmaceutical companies. In the 1990s, Perdue Pharma introduced OxyContin, a highly addictive painkiller stronger than morphine and earned billions of dollars with it. This triggered a race among dozens of pharmaceutical…

From DW Documentary. Earth influences all life on our planet. The same is true in reverse: Animals, plants, and inanimate matter also shape habitats. But humans are currently changing this dynamic cycle. The documentary shows the evolutionary history of our planet, in which the history of humankind represents only a brief moment. Rocks existed on…

From DW Documentary. Sugar has long played a central role in the global economy. But this lucrative business was also a major driver of both colonialism and slavery. To this day, workers are systematically exploited for sugar production. [Part 1: https://youtu.be/5yp-Yj_ENnc] Anyone who wants to tell the story of the conquest of America cannot ignore…

From DW Documentary. Sugar has long played a central role in the global economy. But this lucrative business was also a major driver of both colonialism and slavery. To this day, workers are systematically exploited for sugar production. Anyone who wants to tell the story of the conquest of America cannot ignore sugar. At the…