Mainz – November 06, 2026 -- All five episodes of the first season of ZDF's new documentary series "Terra X: Die Geschichte der Deutschen" (The History of the Germans) will be available in the ZDF streaming portal from Monday, November 9, 2026. Linear TV broadcasts on ZDF begin on November 15, 2026. Actor Matthias Brandt narrates.
The series follows ordinary people, not kings
The series centers on ordinary people and their daily lives rather than kings, emperors and dynasties. Personal stories are tied to major social upheavals and show how everyday life, work, faith and community changed over millennia. Archaeological finds, modern genetic research and historical sources are used to reconstruct these worlds.
Season one runs from the last Ice Age to the late Middle Ages. Season two follows in 2028 with five more episodes reaching into the 20th century.
Five episodes air between November 15 and 29
1. Bones and Genes (Sunday, November 15, 7:30 p.m.): The first modern humans reach the area of present-day Germany about 40,000 years ago. They hunt, gather and create artworks that survive today.
2. Romans and Germanic Tribes (Tuesday, November 17, 8:15 p.m.): Advancing Romans meet the Germanic communities beyond the Rhine. Trade, cultural exchange and conflict change life on both sides.
3. Cross and Crown (Sunday, November 22, 7:30 p.m.): Charlemagne conquers large parts of the territory and enforces Christianization with violence. The Saxon boy Hathumar is taken hostage into the Frankish Empire and later becomes a bishop.
4. Knights and Cities (Tuesday, November 24, 8:15 p.m.): In 1147, Slavic groups burn down the newly founded Lübeck to resist a crusade by German knights. The episode also follows the rise of knights as a noble class and of burghers as a community of free people in the cities.
5. Plague and Profit (Sunday, November 29, 7:30 p.m.): From 1347, the Black Death sweeps through Europe and kills roughly a third of the population. Jews are scapegoated and persecuted. Afterward, trade and education gain importance, universities emerge and public clocks change how people relate to time.
Teaching materials for all episodes arrive around November 12
ZDF is adding companion content to its streaming portal and social media channels. Together with the Association of History Teachers in Germany, it developed teaching materials and didactic notes for every episode. These are expected to be available from November 12, 2026.
All broadcasts come with subtitles, audio description and German Sign Language.