A key year in the Cold War: 'Deutschland 83'
First shown in the US, the German TV series "Deutschland 83" deals with the role played by Germany during the Cold War - and the personal story of a young spy. It has now been named best drama by the International Emmys.
Cold War thriller
"Deutschland 83" tells the story of the young East German sergeant Martin Rauch (Jonas Nay, pictured left) who infiltrates the West German army as an undercover spy in 1983. The series of eight one-hour episodes reveals a classic secret agent thriller - and a tremendously exciting one.
Recruitment phase
The story starts out in East Germany at the beginning of the 1980s. Martin's aunt Lenora Rauch (Maria Schrader), who works for the East and lives in the West, is asked to convince her nephew to work as a secret agent.
Explosive times
The backdrop of "Deutschland 83" is the volatile geopolitical context of the early 1980s. The arms race between the US and the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War adds tension to the plot. In the West German army, Martin Rauch uses the alias of Moritz Stamm.
Snapshot of West Germany
The concept of the series was developed by American author Anna Winger and her husband, German producer Jörg Winger. Four authors collaborated on the screenplay, and the series was directed by Edward Berger and Samira Radsi. The picture above shows a scene with peace movement protesters, another factor in Germany's politically tense atmosphere in 1983.
Nuclear strategies
With US missiles then stationed in West Germany, the country served as the battleground of the Cold War between America and the Soviet Union. In "Deutschland 83," General Wolfgang Edel (Ulrich Noethen) is the direct supervisor of Moritz Stamm. He works closely with the Americans.
Behind the political scenes
"Deutschland 83" gives insight on life behind the scenes in the West German army and with NATO. Here General Edel (Ulrich Noethen, left) and US General Jackson (Errol T. Harewood, right) discuss the next step in the arms race. The NATO maneuver "Able Archer" was perceived as a direct Soviet threat.
On the brink of World War III
The world feared a military confrontation between the world's superpowers. The US and the USSR - and their respective military alliances - held maneuvers to demonstrate their readiness for war. It was a highly volatile situation.
Shedding new light on the Cold War
The television series "Deutschland 83" won the prestigious best drama award at the International Emmys. The Cold War is a popular topic among US viewers. The 2006 German movie "The Lives of Others" was highly successful and won an Oscar. Steven Spielberg's recent film, "Bridge of Spies," is also set in Cold War Germany.