• Jasmin and Maik are looking for a new place to live
• Sandra wants to get her driver’s license
• New episodes of *HARTZ UND HERZLICH – TAG FÜR TAG ROSTOCK* starting July 28, 2026, at 8:15 p.m. on RTLZWEI and seven days in advance on RTL+

This social documentary once again follows people from the Hanseatic city of Rostock as they face the challenges of daily life while living on the edge of the poverty line. Jasmin and Maik are facing major changes: the couple needs to find a new place to live. Sandra also has a goal: she wants to become more independent by getting her driver’s license. New episodes of HARTZ UND HERZLICH – TAG FÜR TAG ROSTOCK air starting July 28, 2026, at 8:15 p.m. on RTLZWEI and are available seven days in advance on RTL+.

Jasmin and Maik are about to start a new chapter. After moving out of the mother-and-child shelter, they’re struggling with being separated from their children. The two are staying with Bärbel temporarily, but they urgently need to find a new place to live. Maik is also facing another change: he wants to get his teeth fixed.

Sandra also has big plans. Just under a year ago, the 42-year-old moved to East Frisia with her family of five. She wants to be more mobile and independent there in the future, which is why she’s been working toward getting her driver’s license for some time now. Along the way, she keeps running into new obstacles. Will she be able to reach her goal?

Lena’s life is in chaos. The 20-year-old knows she urgently needs to tidy up her apartment, but she finds it hard to get organized. She gets support from her friend and mentor Pamela, who’s there for her with advice and practical help. At the same time, Lena is thinking about her professional future and is trying to find a part-time job despite being unable to work.

A new chapter in Jana’s life is beginning. The young mother has the opportunity to furnish her first apartment and is putting her heart and soul into designing her new home. She pays close attention to every detail and is trying to create a cozy space within her limited budget. For her, the new apartment represents not only a fresh start, but also the hope for greater stability and security in her life.

Other residents are also facing major changes. Jean is thriving in his job at the supermarket, which is helping him gain more self-confidence and poise. Damian hopes to bring structure back into his life with a new job at the laundry.

New episodes of *HARTZ UND HERZLICH – TAG FÜR TAG ROSTOCK* begin July 28, 2026, at 8:15 p.m. on RTLZWEI and are available seven days in advance on RTL+. The show is produced by UFA SHOW & FACTUAL.

• The social reportage returns with six new episodes from Hamburg-Mitte
• The residents are accompanied in their everyday lives and visited again after a year
• New episodes of HARTZ UND HERZLICH from February 10, 2026 at 8:15 p.m. on RTLZWEI and seven days in advance on RTL+

The popular social reportage HARTZ UND HERZLICH has new stories in store again – this time from the Hanseatic city of Hamburg. The first three episodes give an insight into the everyday lives of protagonists from the Hamburg-Mitte district for the first time. In three further episodes, the documentary returns to the metropolis after a year and takes a look at the changes in the lives of the residents featured. New episodes of HARTZ UND HERZLICH from February 10, 2026 at 8:15 p.m. on RTLZWEI and seven days in advance on RTL+.

In six new episodes, the social reportage accompanies people from the Hamburg-Mitte district – a neighborhood in which social differences are visible on a daily basis. Ilse lives in the Veddel district. Her council apartment needs to be renovated – a project she wants to tackle together with her partner Daniel, who is 26 years her junior. But their past catches up with them and then the pensioner receives some bad news. Janitor Andy also lives in Veddel and is known there as the good soul – he helps his fellow human beings wherever he can. But when he himself is threatened with a power cut, he reaches his limits.

The couple Ricky and Oli are faced with difficult challenges: Strokes of fate and addiction put their relationship to the test. Despite all the adversity, the two want to stick together – but how long can their bond withstand the circumstances? Steffy and Manu are also struggling with worries: Steffy is pregnant, premature labor and financial hardship are forcing the parents-to-be to make difficult decisions. Can the young family withstand the test of endurance?

Stefanie wants to get back into the world of work and applies for a job at a fish restaurant. After a setback, the tide seems to turn – will she be able to impress with her skills? A familiar face from Kassel, Conny, is also dreaming of a job in the restaurant trade. She wants to make a fresh start in her hometown of Hamburg and see her son Mirco again after three years of silence. Yilmaz also has big goals: He wants to get his driver’s license! The job center will pay for it – can he seize the opportunity for himself?

New episodes of HARTZ UND HERZLICH from February 10, 2026 at 8:15 p.m. on RTLZWEI and seven days in advance on RTL+. The format is produced by UFA Show & Factual.

Cologne, December 17, 2025– Ten years ago, on February 20, 2016, RTLZWEI launched HARTZ UND HERZLICH, a format that has had a lasting impact on the German TV landscape. Since then, the social documentary produced by UFA Show & Factual has provided an authentic insight into the lives of people living in poverty – over months and years. Respectful, up close and without a script: Real life writes the stories – from major challenges to small moments of happiness. Time and again, the format shows how much warmth and solidarity is possible even under difficult conditions.

In two primetime specials on January 6 and 13, 2026, performers from different cities will come together for the first time. This will result in touching, funny and sometimes profound encounters.

Ralf Jühe, Executive Director UFA Show & Factual: “Ten years of HARTZ UND HERZLICH – that means ten years of real stories, real feelings and real trust. We are extremely grateful for the openness of the people who let us into their lives. I have great respect for them. They show us their worries, their hopes and their dreams – and that’s what makes this format so special. HARTZ UND HERZLICH provides an unadulterated insight into the reality of the people we accompany – and this insight is touching and moving. My special thanks also go to our great team behind the camera, who ensure that these stories can be told with passion, respect and tireless dedication.”

Konstanze Beyer, Program Director Factual & Documentary and Editor-in-Chief RTLZWEI: “HARTZ UND HERZLICH is a mainstay of the RTLZWEI program. As a long-term observation of social realities, the series is unique on German television. It has changed the way we look at people who receive social benefits or earn very little. HARTZ UND HERZLICH shows them not just as anonymous statistics or passive victims, but as families, friends and neighbors who help out and stick together. Many of our protagonists have become real-life celebrities for whom viewers show sympathy and respect. In this way, UFA Show & Factual and RTLZWEI are making a valuable contribution to an empathetic debate about solidarity in society.”

The social documentary has an impressive track record: In total, more than 700 episodes have been produced, comprising over 37,000 broadcast minutes. During this time, the UFA Show & Factual camera teams have accompanied more than 500 people – in 20 different cities throughout Germany. They covered all the highs and lows of everyday life, many moving moments and, time and again, very special events: For example, HARTZ UND HERZLICH has already celebrated twelve weddings and the births of fourteen children.

HARTZ UND HERZLICH continues to perform very successfully in its tenth year. The last primetime season “Return to Magdeburg”, which aired from September 9 to 23, 2025, achieved an average market share of 5.6 percent among 14 to 49-year-olds – 47 percent above the RTLZWEI channel average. The daily edition of HARTZ UND HERZLICH – TAG FÜR TAG BENZ-BARACKEN set a new all-time weekly record with a strong 7.9 percent market share among 14 to 49-year-olds in week 47. This year, 10.11 million viewers have already watched at least one episode of HARTZ UND HERZLICH or HARTZ UND HERZLICH – TAG FÜR TAG broadcast in prime time. This corresponds to 15 percent of all television viewers. The format is also convincing in streaming: the episode “Der Traum vom eigenen Zuhause” from the season “Das Wiedersehen” from Rostock has already achieved 815,000 views this year. In total, HARTZ UND HERZLICH has recorded over 20 million views in the RTL+ media library this year.*

Since the first episode of HARTZ UND HERZLICH – DIE EISENBAHNSIEDLUNG VON DUISBURG in 2016, the UFA Show & Factual camera teams have been on the road in the cities of Duisburg, Mannheim, Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Pirmasens, Salzgitter, Rostock, Krefeld, Nuremberg, Cologne, Bergheim, Düren, Hamburg, Trier, Magdeburg, Frankfurt/Oder, Eberswalde, Niedergörsdorf, Düsseldorf, Leverkusen and Kassel.

HARTZ UND HERZLICH is a production of UFA Show & Factual GmbH on behalf of RTLZWEI.

*Sources: AGF Videoforschung; AGF SCOPE 1.13; 01.01.2025-30.11.2025; market standard: moving image / AGF, AGF Census+: streaming video, census data from technical measurement, offers under AGF measurement until 30.11.2025

The successful social documentary HARTZ UND HERZLICH documents the everyday lives of people who have been forgotten by society. Over several months, the UFA Show & Factual teams accompany the residents in their hard and deprived everyday lives. Credible and authentic, very close and without dramaturgical exaggeration. In HARTZ UND HERZLICH there are many oppressive moments, but there is also a great deal of warmth and humor.

Filming has so far taken place in the prefabricated buildings of Bitterfeld-Wolfen, in the railroad housing estate in Duisburg, in the Benz barracks in Mannheim, on the Blockmacherring in Rostock, in Salzgitter-Lebenstedt, in the Winzler quarter of Pirmasens, in Niedergörsdorf in the Altes Lager district, in Bergheim, in Frankfurt an der Oder, in Luckenwalde, in Krefeld, in Cologne-Bickendorf, in Leverkusen, in Düren, in Magdeburg, in Eberswalde, in Trier-West and in Nuremberg.

• Micky faces homelessness
• Franzi and Markus’ family are expecting big changes
• New episodes of HARTZ UND HERZLICH from Magdeburg from September 9, every Tuesday at 8:15 p.m. on RTLZWEI and seven days in advance on RTL+.

HARTZ UND HERZLICH returns to Magdeburg! In this episode, Micky fears for his apartment because he has missed his application for citizen’s allowance. In Schönebeck, Franzi and Markus’ family is facing upheaval: daughter Lisa wants to move out, but Uncle René’s health puts the plans they made shortly beforehand into question. Dennis struggles with financial worries as a single father while trying to give his son Bryan a good life. A new episode of HARTZ UND HERZLICH from Magdeburg – on September 9 at 8:15 pm on RTLZWEI and in advance on RTL+.

In Magdeburg, 44-year-old Micky is currently struggling with serious problems. He is on the verge of losing his apartment. He himself is to blame for this misery because he did not renew his citizen’s allowance application, so the rent payments were stopped by the authorities. Will Micky end up on the street or will he find a solution?

Franzi and Markus live in Schönebeck with their six children and Uncle René. But the family is facing a big change. Franzi’s eldest daughter Lisa wants to move into her own apartment with her fiancé Leon. The relationship between the 22-year-old and Franzi, the head of the family, is strained and everyone is longing for a change of space. But Uncle René’s state of health puts the relocation plans on the back burner.

Dennis is raising his son Bryan on his own. The lively third-grader keeps family life on the go. The single father tries to do everything he can for his child, despite receiving income support, but money is often tight. A bill for unpaid rent makes for restless nights for Dennis. Can Dennis avert this disaster?

New episodes of HARTZ UND HERZLICH from Magdeburg from September 9, every Tuesday at 8:15 pm on RTLZWEI and seven days in advance on RTL+. The format is produced by UFA Show & Factual.

• Pascal in personal insolvency with debts of 20,000 euros
• Selina starts work in a workshop for the disabled
• New episodes of HARTZ UND HERZLICH – TAG FÜR TAG BENZ-BARACKEN, starting August 19 every Tuesday at 8:15 p.m. on RTLZWEI and in advance on RTL+

• New episodes of the two social reports on Tuesday evenings
• The new episodes of HARTZ UND HERZLICH feature a reunion with familiar protagonists
• HARTZ UND HERZLICH – TAG FÜR TAG ROSTOCK GROSS KLEIN from Tuesday, January 7 at 8:15 p.m. and HARTZ UND HERZLICH from 9:15 p.m. on RTLZWEI

Tuesday evening will be HARTZ UND HERZLICH evening! At 8:15 pm, RTLZWEI will be showing new episodes of HARTZ UND HERZLICH – TAG FÜR TAG ROSTOCK GROSS KLEIN, followed by brand new episodes of HARTZ UND HERZLICH at 9:15 pm: Instead of a specific region, the episodes will show well-known people from the past eight years. How are they doing today and what has changed? New episodes of HARTZ UND HERZLICH – Tag für Tag Rostock Groß Klein – starting January 7, every Tuesday at 8:15 p.m., followed by HARTZ UND HERZLICH with reunion episodes on RTLZWEI.

• The social reportage shows the lives of people in the Trier-West district
• The protagonists react to hate comments online
• New episode of HARTZ UND HERZLICH from Trier-West on Tuesday, November 19, at 8:15 p.m. on RTLZWEI

The social reportage HARTZ UND HERZLICH returns to the Trier-West district. The new episodes feature a reunion with familiar faces and new protagonists. How have people’s lives changed, how are the new faces coping with their new circumstances? The residents have one thing in common: they all live on the edge of subsistence. A new episode of HARTZ UND HERZLICH from Trier-West – on November 19 at 8:15 p.m. on RTLZWEI.

After the first “Hartz und herzlich – Trier-West” episodes were broadcast, the people in Magnerichstraße had to put up with some hateful comments on social media. But Ralf, Steven and Sascha are not putting up with this and call their neighbors to a crisis meeting in Ralf’s living room. Together, the people of Trier speak out about the prejudice and insults.

31-year-old Valeska has been unemployed for ten years. Now the trained geriatric nurse wants to build up a livelihood for herself and her children Mia and Luca. The job center is reimbursing her for the costs of further training in mobile geriatric care and her driving license. After passing her theory and practical lessons, she is almost there. But her past as a former drug user threatens to throw a spanner in the works. Will she be allowed to take the test?

26-year-old Sascha wants to work in Magnerichstrasse and plans to catch up on his secondary school leaving certificate at night school. His husband Mike and brother Patrik support him. But after losing 35 kilos in weight, a dangerously fluctuating insulin level lands him in hospital.

Nina and Bernd, both unemployed and dependent on social benefits, also live in Trier-West. 37-year-old Bernd has struggled with alcohol problems since his youth, but now he is seeking help from addiction counseling. His friend Pit and flatmate Nina support him in turning his life around.

A new episode of HARTZ UND HERZLICH – on Tuesday, November 19 at 8:15 p.m. on RTLZWEI. The program is produced by UFA SHOW & FACTUAL GmbH. The episodes will be available free of charge on RTL+ for seven days after broadcast – and then in the PREMIUM section.

• Three new episodes from the previously unseen Düsseldorf
• The southern districts of Garath, Reisholz and Holthausen are illuminated
• Starting January 23, every Tuesday at 9:15 p.m. on RTLZWEI

• Three new episodes from Magdeburg
• Reunion with Franzi’s extended family, Siggi, Micky and others
• From January 2, every Tuesday at 9:15 p.m. on RTLZWEI

The social documentary “Hartz und herzlich” is once again focusing on the city of Magdeburg in three new episodes. There is also a reunion with familiar faces from the first season from the state capital of Saxony-Anhalt. Grandmother Franzi and husband Markus urgently need to find a new apartment for their family of six. Formerly homeless Micky wants to prove himself as a family man and 66-year-old Siggi is driven into poverty by the move to a more expensive, barrier-free apartment. New episodes of “Hartz und herzlich” from Magdeburg from January 2, always on Tuesdays at 9:15 pm on RTLZWEI.

Franzi and her husband Markus’ extended family live in Magdeburg’s Grünstraße. The 37-year-old is a mother and grandmother of six, as her 19-year-old daughter Lisa recently gave birth to little Emma. Lisa’s partner and father of the child, 19-year-old Leon, also lives in the family’s five-room apartment, the rent for which is paid by the Jobcenter. For months, the office did not take into account the increase in service charges and therefore paid too little rent to the landlord, who terminated the tenancy without notice. The youth welfare office sees the unstable housing situation as a threat to the child’s welfare. If the family of ten does not move into a homeless shelter within a few days, the children are to be taken into the care of the authorities.

66-year-old Siggi lives in the Sudenburg district of Magdeburg. The single woman has been unable to work for over 20 years and receives a disability pension, with which she lives below the subsistence level. As the pensioner is increasingly dependent on a walking frame, she recently moved into a barrier-free apartment. But it is much more expensive than her previous home. For the first time in her life, the trained tax assistant is dependent on food donations from the food bank – and then her oven goes on strike.

Nicky lives in the Neue Neustadt district with her two-year-old son Noah. She has had a new partner for five months, 42-year-old Micky. The former homeless man spends a lot of time with the pregnant woman, takes care of the household and tries to be a family man. Former Hartz IV recipient Coco lives in the same district with her partner Henry and their children Selina and Niclas. Since the Magdeburg native recently got a full-time job, the family is no longer dependent on state benefits. Partner Henry has also been looking for a job for two years and finally has an interview lined up.

The format is produced by UFA Show & Factual GmbH.

New episodes of “Hartz und herzlich” from Magdeburg from January 2, always on Tuesdays from 9:15 pm. The episodes are available free of charge on RTL+ for 30 days after broadcast.

Susi is afraid that the youth welfare office will take her children away because of an incident. Fortunately, her friend Eva stands by her side. Marcello is overwhelmed by his one-euro job and Sabrina is trying to keep her head above water as a cleaner. Susi lives in Nuremberg with her three children. The 42-year-old Serbian separated from her husband a year and a half ago. Since then, she has been looking after her children on her own. After an incident in the family, the youth welfare office got involved. Now Susi is afraid of losing her children. Fortunately, her friend Eva stands by her side during this time.

27-year-old Marcello also lives in Nuremberg. He suffers from a resilience disorder, which makes it extremely difficult for him to interpret other people’s feelings and therefore everyday life. He has been living on Hartz IV, or what is now known as citizen’s income, for four years. He has recently been supplementing his state benefits with a one-euro job. However, the demands of this job are pushing him to his limits. His boss has a conversation with Marcello, whereupon he draws his conclusions.

It is also about Sabrina and her son. She lost her office job due to her striking appearance and has been looking for work for almost two months. Her son is in first grade. Sabrina’s part-time job as a cleaner is not enough to provide him with a carefree childhood. A job interview at a temporary employment agency could mean a positive change for the small family.

HARTZ UND HERZLICH – NÜRNBERG starts with three new episodes on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at 9:15 p.m. on RTLZWEI. The format is produced by UFA Show & Factual GmbH.

• Reunion with Janine, Michael, Elvis and Katrin from the Benz barracks
• Six new episodes about life in the Waldhof district of Mannheim
• Broadcast from Tuesday, November 14, 2023, at 8:15 p.m. on RTLZWEI

The social documentary HARTZ UND HERZLICH returns to the Benz barracks in Mannheim and gives viewers an insight into the lives of the people in this socially deprived neighborhood. The reunion with the popular residents shows their strength, cohesion and cheerfulness despite difficult living conditions. The new episodes can be seen on RTLZWEI from November 14, 2023 at 8:15 pm.

In the upcoming episodes, Michael, a self-employed janitor, will try a fascinating experiment: he plans to get by for a month on the standard citizen’s income of 502 euros. This means that he will have to accept considerable restrictions in his everyday life. Mobility and food are the top priorities. The experiment not only promises to be exciting, but also raises important questions about social reality.

There is also a reunion with Janine: the former Hartz IV recipient opened her own beauty salon two months ago. But a severe bout of flu has thwarted her plans and the orders have stopped coming in. Can she still remain financially independent from the authorities or is her business on the brink of collapse?

There’s news from Katrin and Elvis. The couple have been dependent on state aid for years. With a mini-job, they need financial support to make ends meet. The parents of eight show the audience their everyday life and defend themselves against prejudices in the social media. In the current season, there is good news for the couple: They can look forward to a new addition to the family – daughter Jelena recently became a mother. Jelena is currently living in a mother and child home and is learning to cope with everyday life with her baby. This presents them with new family planning considerations.

The focus is also on Petra, who is looking for a new electric stove with her son Pascal after their old stove became unusable due to a cable fire. Pascal has his own problems with the justice system as he is once again confronted with accusations.

HARTZ UND HERZLICH – TAG FÜR TAG BENZ-BARACKEN starts with six new episodes on Wednesday, November 14, 2023, at 8:15 p.m. on RTLZWEI. The format is produced by UFA Show & Factual GmbH.

• Unadulterated insights into the everyday life of the residents of the former industrial site
• From October 24, 2023, every Tuesday at 9:15 pm on RTLZWEI

The social documentary HARTZ UND HERZLICH is once again devoting three new episodes to the town in the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt. For the second time since 2018, personal fates and stories from Bitterfeld-Wolfen can be seen. In GDR times, the prefabricated buildings in Wolfen-Nord were still considered a popular residential area with prospects. Today, poverty and unemployment often determine the everyday lives of the residents. The camera teams were on location every day for almost four months, following the people of the estate. Start is on October 24, 2023 at 21:15 on RTLZWEI.

31-year-old Alexandra, known as Alex, lives in the Wolfen-Nord district with her children Mia and Leon. The family was already part of the documentary in 2017. A lot has happened since then: on the one hand, Alex split up with her then boyfriend, and on the other, things are looking up for the trained housekeeper. After many years, the single parent has finally managed to get away from the job center. But is the money she earns enough to support her family? Daughter Mia is now 15 years old. Viewers were given their first insight into her everyday life in 2017. Money may be tight at the time, but Mia dreams of going to high school and then finding a good job. Did the teenager stick to her plan?

Roland was also there in 2017. The 61-year-old still lives in the same small 26-square-metre prefabricated apartment in Wolfen-Nord. The trained construction worker has also made progress in his career in recent years. But although the Hartz IV recipient has a mini-job as a cleaner, the job center wants to put him on an additional measure. If he doesn’t accept it, Roland faces the consequences. What will the 61-year-old decide?

New episodes of HARTZ UND HERZLICH – BITTERFELD-WOLFEN from October 24, 2023, always on Tuesdays from 9:15 pm. The episodes will be available free of charge on RTL+ for 30 days after broadcast.

In seven years, HARTZ UND HERZLICH has followed more than 300 protagonists from a total of 19 cities. Since its launch, the personal fates and stories have touched many viewers and also sensitized them to the issue of poverty. In three episodes, the social documentary now focuses on well-known protagonists from various cities who have already been accompanied by the camera and whose lives have changed a lot since then. The episodes can be seen from April 11, every Tuesday at 8:15 pm on RTLZWEI.

It all started in 2016 in the Duisburg railroad settlement: back then, kiosk owner Julz was involved. His kiosk was the focal point for the residents of the estate. Seven years later, he recalls the most memorable moments and shows how his life and his neighborhood have changed.

Three years ago, 63-year-old Rudi from Luckenwalde in Brandenburg wanted to emigrate to Tanzania to build a new life there with his fiancée Nangini. Back then, the coronavirus pandemic thwarted the Hartz IV recipient’s plans. But Rudi has not given up. Together with his 86-year-old mother, he has saved money for his big dream. Will he finally manage to emigrate to Africa?

There is also a reunion with 57-year-old Frank from Salzgitter. His life could change from one day to the next. Due to a death in the family, there is an inheritance in the form of a property worth several hundred thousand euros. But in order to claim the inheritance, he still has to prove his degree of kinship and complete a lot of paperwork. If he succeeds, after more than 30 years he would no longer be dependent on the authorities.

Mia, now 15, lives with her mother Alex in Bitterfeld-Wolfen. Viewers were given their first insight into her everyday life in 2017. Money was tight at the time, but Mia dreamed of going to high school and then finding a good job. Did the teenager stick to her plan? And what does Alex do for a living today?

From April 11, 2023, every Tuesday from 8:15 p.m.: Three new episodes of HARTZ UND HERZLICH.

Norman and Kathleen live in Eberswalde with their two children and dog Kira. To be able to escape the daily grind more often, the father wants to get his driver’s license. Meanwhile, 40-year-old long-term student Peggy has to take care of her master’s thesis. Will she succeed?

Good news from the Benz barracks! Janine has completed her training and can now call herself a “make-up artist”. The single mother of two children now wants to start her own business so that she is no longer dependent on Hartz IV. Jerrick is currently going through a difficult phase in his life. He believes he suffers from borderline syndrome and has now taken the first steps to get help. Petra lives in the green block with her future husband Sascha and their two daughters. Sascha has turned out to be a great stepfather for eight-year-old Lucia and five-year-old Francesca.

It’s back to Krefeld! Angelina is heavily pregnant. However, her mother Conny is very worried that the 16-year-old will have to move into a mother and child home after the birth. The decisive visit from the youth welfare office is still to come. Angelina also has to deal with issues such as child benefit and parental allowance. 59-year-old Chris has now been receiving Hartz IV for eleven years. After a total of six heart attacks and two strokes, he still has to sleep on the couch at home. Friends have now bought him a bed. Will it make him feel better? Melanie and Christian also live in Krefeld with their son Nico. Melanie has been receiving support from the state for 20 years, while Christian has been living on Hartz IV for six years. At home, the family of three makes a discovery in the bathroom that leaves them in tears.

In three new episodes, HARTZ UND HERZLICH once again focuses on the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt, this time on the state capital Magdeburg. The prefabricated buildings from the 1970s and 1980s were still considered a popular residential area with prospects in GDR times. Today, poverty and unemployment often dominate the everyday lives of residents in the north of the city on the Elbe. HARTZ UND HERZLICH takes a look behind the scenes at those affected and tells the stories of people on the edge of subsistence: genuine, unadulterated, but always funny and, above all, heartfelt. The new stories from October 11, 2022, every Tuesday at prime time on RTLZWEI.

Franziska, 35, and her husband Markus, nine years her senior, live in a prefabricated apartment in the Neue Neustadt district. They share it with their six children and dog Trixi. The family’s problem child at the moment is their eldest daughter Lisa. The 17-year-old has dropped out of school. In addition, health problems and having to move out of their apartment are presenting the family of eight with serious challenges.

Also living in Magdeburg, but without a permanent address, is 40-year-old Michael, known as Mickey. The Hartz IV recipient has been receiving social benefits for 16 years and alternates between staying overnight with friends. But this is now set to end. Mickey and his girlfriend Susi have got engaged and want to build a future together – including a permanent home and a new start in working life.

Mickey’s ex-girlfriend Sieglinge, known as Siggi, also lives in Magdeburg. The 64-year-old lives in a two-room apartment with her dog Bibi. Siggi wants to put her past behind her and go back to her maiden name. The early retiree only has 200 euros a month to live on. Will she be able to afford to change her name?

20-year-old Max lives not far from Lake Neustadt. Despite his young age, he has already experienced a lot: at the age of 13, he lived in sheltered housing and then spent some time in a homeless shelter. He is unable to cope with the housekeeping in his apartment and hasn’t cleaned or opened his post for weeks. But he wants to put an end to this at last!

Things are also set to move forward for 26-year-old Felix. Now that he has found a job after months of unemployment, he wants to continue his professional training. To do this, the Magdeburg native wants to complete his forklift license. But will Felix complete the training?

To kick off the fall, RTLZWEI will be reuniting with the residents of the Waldhof district of Mannheim in four new episodes of HARTZ UND HERZLICH. Starting on September 13, the prime-time social documentary will show what happens in the lives of Elvis, Janine, Jerrick, Petra, Carmen, Pascal and many other residents of the social hotspot after Dagmar’s death.

Dagmar’s death marks the end of a chapter in the Benz barracks. Her hands-on and robust nature won people’s hearts. Dagmar’s daughters Tammy and Anja want fans and friends to be able to take home a memento of the good soul of the Benz-Baracken. That’s why they organize a yard sale with the rest of the family. Elvis also wants to take another look at her belongings on this day and fights back tears.

A dream has come true for Hartz IV recipient Janine: She has been awarded a scholarship to a make-up school and commutes there every day. This would not be possible without the nursery care for her twins Jaydin and Jaylin. Competition in the field is fierce, but Janine wants to be able to work in her dream job in the long term.

Jerrick’s successes are currently a long time coming. He wanted to finally gain a foothold with a job at a petrol station. But psychological problems are putting a spanner in the works. Jerrick is a talented draughtsman and wants to stand on his own two feet. He doesn’t give up, but seeks professional help. He also wants a cleaner look so that he can find a new job and his own apartment as quickly as possible.

Meanwhile, Petra is planning to move into the new buildings in the Benz barracks and wants to apply for a new home with Pascal and Selina. The new buildings are also a topic of discussion in Carmen and Dieter’s yellow terraced house: although the extended family is not looking for a new home, they are concerned with the changes. Carmen is not only angry about the asking price – she is also annoyed about the inconvenience caused by the building site. In addition to noise and dirt, the building work has brought with it another problem: mice have made themselves at home in the house of the mother of six and are keeping Carmen on her toes.

From the barracks to idyllic Kusel – this is the path Pascal chose when he moved in with his girlfriend Michelle. The two have been a couple for nine months and the 20-year-old has become accustomed to his new surroundings. Only the lack of prospects is frustrating, because even after the move Pascal still lives on state support. He doesn’t want it to stay that way, but Corona is delaying his job search.

A large contingent of firefighters stands in front of the yellow terraced houses: arsonists have been up to mischief in the dark. Elvis and Katrin are alarmed. They underestimate how quickly a fire can start from an ignition and such incidents are becoming more frequent in the shacks. Fortunately, however, the fire had a mild outcome. No people were injured and the flames did not spread to neighboring buildings.

The annual Hansa Sail festival takes place in Rostock, where Cindy and her ex-boyfriend Jean meet. The former couple have been separated for a year. Jean claims to be happy about the break-up. But does he really no longer have feelings for the mother of his children? Cindy certainly has her suspicions. Celine and Falko also live in Rostock. But they both want to leave the Hanseatic city and move to Magdeburg. Before they make the final decision, they pay a short visit to their new adopted home.

Meanwhile, it seems as if everything is conspiring against Martin. His fiancée Manja has moved into a homeless shelter and his apartment has already been terminated without notice. The 33-year-old initially stays with friends. But after living together becomes a real challenge, he starts looking for new accommodation. Will he be able to find a longer-term place to stay?

With the death of Andreas Kowalski, HARTZ UND HERZLICH has lost its cult sailor, who moved fans and viewers alike with his incomparable manner. RTLZWEI accompanies him on his last journey to the sailor’s funeral and recalls the most beautiful moments.

Hannelore and Ralf live in Trier-West. They have been dependent on the state for over three decades. There is always something going on at their house and their home is not only a popular meeting place for their children, but also for many neighbors. Their daughter Nadine lives in the same house. She lives here with her son Elias and her fiancé Raimund. The family has been through difficult times, as Elias suffers from an incurable metabolic disease. Now the Trier couple want to look to a positive future and take the next step after four years of dating. They want to get married! An organizational and financial challenge for the Hartz IV recipients.

Sush also lives in Trier-West. Since the former cab driver lost his driver’s license, he has been living on Hartz IV. Sush wants his driver’s license back. In order to get the money together, he does without any luxuries and spends no more than 15 euros on his weekly shopping. But he still has a long way to go before he finds the money for his medical-psychological examination. His good friend Valeska also wants to get out of unemployment and starts working in the same nightclub as Sush. The mother of two wants to rebuild her life so that she can permanently reunite with her children from the youth welfare office’s residential group.

Sascha and his husband Mike live together in Trier-West. They are both trying to gain a foothold in working life. But the search is not so easy: while Sascha is given the chance to catch up on his secondary school leaving certificate through a job center scheme so that he can later train as a carpenter, husband Mike only receives rejections.

Flatmates Nina and Bernd have money problems. Electricity debts of almost 2500 euros make life difficult for Nina and the early retiree. They desperately try to get money and hope for support from the job center.

HARTZ UND HERZLICH – TRIER-WEST ran from July 5, 2022 to July 19, 2022 on Tuesdays at 8:15 p.m. on RTLZWEI. (3 episodes)

Following the great primetime success of the social documentary, HARTZ UND HERZLICH – TAG FÜR TAG BENZ-BARACKEN once again shows life in the “Benz-Baracken” in Mannheim. Several camera teams once again accompanied the residents in their everyday lives. Once again, there is a reunion with the residents of Mannheim’s Waldhof district – real, authentic and always at eye level.

Petra has a difficult journey ahead of her. After her cancer-stricken fiancé Heiko died of heart failure, she now wants to see the possible final resting place of the Berlin-born man. Her grief is now compounded by financial worries due to the funeral costs. Petra feels left alone by the state in this difficult situation.

A vaccination station is set up in the Benz barracks. Many of the residents take advantage of the opportunity. Dagmar, however, is worried: the good soul of the Benz barracks suffers from a pre-existing condition. The vaccination station arouses her curiosity, but she is afraid of injections…

Meanwhile, Janine has a row with her ex, who is the father of her twins but is avoiding the paternity test. Meanwhile, some of the residents such as Florian, Dieter and Dagmar are caught up in European Cup fever. Meanwhile, Marina sets up a pool in the summer temperatures for the children to have fun swimming in. But the activity ends in a swimming accident…

HARTZ UND HERZLICH – TAG FÜR TAG BENZ-BARACKEN ran from January 4, 2022 to February 1, 2022 on Tuesdays at 8:15 p.m. on RTLZWEI. (5 episodes)

In three new episodes, HARTZ UND HERZLICH focuses on the city of Düren in the south-west of North Rhine-Westphalia. Once characterized by a stable paper and textile industry, the city of 93,000 inhabitants currently has an unemployment rate of 7.3 percent. HARTZ UND HERZLICH tells the stories of people living on the breadline. Pure life: real, harrowing, but always humorous and, above all, heartfelt.

The location was deliberately chosen to show a piece of Germany as honestly and uninfluenced as possible. The camera teams from UFA Show & Factual were on location almost every day for four months and accompanied the people in Düren: Credible and authentic, very close up and without dramaturgical exaggeration. There are many oppressive moments, but also a lot of warmth with a large portion of humor and always straightforward.

HARTZ UND HERZLICH – DÜREN ran from November 30, 2021 to December 14, 2021 on Tuesdays at 8:15 p.m. on RTLZWEI. (3 episodes)

In three new episodes, the social documentary HARTZ UND HERZLICH focuses on the Leverkusen-Steinbüchel district. Our HARTZ UND HERZLICH team accompanied the residents of Leverkusen for several weeks. The episodes of HARTZ UND HERZLICH – LEVERKUSEN STEINBÜCHEL were broadcast on 09.11., 16.11. & 23.11., Tuesdays at 20:15 on RTLZWEI.

In three new episodes, the social documentary HARTZ UND HERZLICH is once again focusing on Niedergörsdorf. The town on the outskirts of Berlin was already the focus of the series in 2019 – now the camera teams have returned and have once again accompanied old acquaintances and new residents for months as they go about their deprived everyday lives.

Franziska and Patrick, better known as Franzi and Petti, have now moved from Niedergörsdorf in the south of Brandenburg to neighboring Luckenwalde. With their new home, the couple hope to win the battle with the youth welfare office to have their children returned to them. At the moment, Franzi and Petti are only allowed to see their two sons every two weeks. The quarrelsome couple live on Hartz IV and have to turn over every penny. However, Franzi’s existence as unemployed is soon to come to an end. She has a promising job interview.

60-year-old Rudi is also stranded in Luckenwalde with his mother Inge. After opening a café in Tanzania with his partner of 32 years, the globetrotter only wanted to travel to Germany to apply for a visa. But the coronavirus pandemic put a spanner in the works. The trained carpenter is now forced to live on Hartz IV in Germany for the time being. Janine, 22, lives in Jüterbog, another neighboring town of Niedergörsdorf, with her two kindergarten-age sons. The Hartz IV recipient has to cope with the everyday challenges of being a single mother. Despite this, Janine also has to deal with the problems of her boyfriend Norman.

HARTZ UND HERZLICH – RÜCKKEHR NACH NIEDERGÖRSDORF ran from October 12, 2021 to October 26, 2021 on Tuesdays at 8:15 pm on RTLZWEI. (3 episodes)

Deep in the west of Cologne live 17,000 inhabitants in the district of Bickendorf. Around one in ten residents lives on the edge of the city and also on the edge of society and receives transfer payments from the state. The camera teams from the production company UFA Show & Factual accompanied the hard and deprived everyday lives of the people for over four months.

One of them is Nadine: the 24-year-old lives in a three-room apartment in the heart of Bickendorf with her mother Brigitte and her two-year-old son Marlon. Not only is space often tight – but also the money for the two Hartz IV recipients. Although the rent is covered by the authorities, mother and daughter have to share the ancillary costs. When they receive a surprise heating bill, they are in for a big shock: the Jobcenter only covers part of the costs, Nadine and Brigitte have to pay the rest.

Klaus has been unable to manage his household for a long time for health reasons. Now the housing association has also become aware of the condition of the two-room apartment and has issued the pensioner with a warning. Klaus is threatened with eviction and homelessness. Neighbor Tami, who has already helped the 67-year-old in the past, is determined to prevent this. In a clean-up operation lasting several days, the apartment is to be spruced up again. But will the neighborly help arrive in time?

HARTZ UND HERZLICH – KÖLN-BICKENDORF ran from January 26, 2021 to February 9, 2021 at 8:15 p.m. on RTLZWEI (3 episodes).

Krefeld: The working-class district around Dieselstraße has now become a problem area. One person who lives there is Hartz IV recipient Conny (37). The mother of five only wants one thing for her children: a perspective.

The former working-class neighborhood around Dieselstrasse has become a problem district. HARTZ UND HERZLICH takes a look behind the scenes at those affected and tells the stories of people living on the edge of subsistence.

One of them is single parent Conny. She lives in Krefeld with three of her five children. She became a mother for the first time at the age of 17 and had to interrupt her education due to her pregnancies. Like many in the socially deprived area, Conny also receives Hartz IV. The 37-year-old would like a different life for her children. But her daughter Angelina regularly stays away from school, and now even her school-leaving certificate is on the line. Conny’s greatest fear is that her daughter will follow in her footsteps.

HARTZ UND HERZLICH – KREFELD ran from December 8, 2020 to December 22, 2020 at 8:15 p.m. on RTLZWEI (3 episodes).

The prefabricated buildings in Frankfurt an der Oder date back to the 1970s and were considered a popular residential area in GDR times. Today, things are different. Poverty and unemployment have long prevailed here. Young people in particular want to leave the city. HARTZ UND HERZLICH takes a look behind the scenes and tells the stories of people on the edge of subsistence.

Take 19-year-old Celine and 23-year-old Max, for example. The two of them actually wanted to build a future together in the prefabricated buildings of Frankfurt (Oder). But now they just want to get away as quickly as possible – and preferably separately. Just under a year ago, they wanted to say “I do”, but two days before the wedding ceremony, Max called it off. Three months ago, they finally broke up. One of the reasons for this was that the two Hartz IV recipients were having money problems. However, the local job center continues to classify them as a community of need. This not only leads to financial problems in their 59 square meter apartment, but also to great emotional stress.

Another case involves 34-year-old Peter. He has debts with the municipal utilities. Now his electricity has been cut off. The trained chef has been unemployed again for five months now. But the 432 euros he receives each month from the job center are not enough to get by. Now he sits in the dark – without light, without a television or a way to charge his electronic devices at the socket. The only way he can escape this bleak situation is if he somehow manages to find money to pay off his debts.

Meanwhile, 27-year-old Franziska and her boyfriend Christian, who is ten years older, have been living in a homeless shelter for three months. The two Hartz IV recipients have been addicted to drugs for several years – and have already had many failed attempts at withdrawal. After their last relapse, their three children were taken away from them by the youth welfare office. All the more reason for Franziska and Christian to finally get clean. The couple want nothing more than to be able to reunite their family. Will they succeed in beating their addiction this time?

HARTZ UND HERZLICH – FRANKFURT/OR ran from September 22, 2020 to October 6, 2020 at 8:15 p.m. on RTLZWEI (3 episodes).

Two years after its broadcast, HARTZ UND HERZLICH is back in Salzgitter: large iron ore deposits made the town an industrial location in the post-war period. But the boom ended in the 1970s and factories and workers moved away. Unemployment in the city in Lower Saxony now stands at 8.8% – above the national average. But what has changed for the residents since the broadcast?

Thomas, a 47-year-old retiree, is a familiar face. He lives in the Lebenstedt district. The trained concrete mixer has been an alcoholic since the age of 18. Born in Leipzig, he has 330 euros to live on, but the money almost never lasts until the end of the month. He takes every returnable bottle he finds – that’s a lot of money for Thomas. Like one in five pensioners in Germany, he struggles with poverty in old age on a daily basis.

Hartz IV recipient Claudia lives with her grandma Leonie and her step-grandpa Sven. The 20-year-old has been looking for an apprenticeship and a job for over a year – so far without success. Immediately after graduating from secondary school, she had to apply for Hartz IV. Now the office has assigned Claudia to a job application scheme. But even this has not brought the young woman any job or training promises. Claudia is frustrated, because finding work is her greatest wish.

HARTZ UND HERZLICH was already on location in Salzgitter in 2018 and portrayed the Lebenstedt district. The town in Lower Saxony was known as an industrial location, especially in the late post-war period, attracting workers and companies from all over Germany thanks to its rich iron ore deposits. However, Salzgitter is now struggling with a high unemployment rate. Camera teams have now spent another four months on location almost every day to speak to local residents. What has changed in their lives since the broadcast?

HARTZ UND HERZLICH – RÜCKKEHR NACH SALZGITTER is produced by UFA Show & Factual GmbH and ran from September 1, 2020 to September 15, 2020 at 8:15 p.m. on RTLZWEI (3 episodes).

About HARTZ UND HERZLICH – RÜCKKEHR NACH SALZGITTER:

Two years after the broadcast, the camera crews from “Hartz und herzlich” return to Salzgitter. The town in Lower Saxony was known for its rich iron ore deposits in the 1950s, but little remains of the glory of those days. The camera teams from the production company UFA Show & Factual were once again on location and accompanied local residents almost daily for four months. What has changed for them since the broadcast?

In three new episodes, HARTZ UND HERZLICH focuses on the former lignite mining stronghold of Bergheim. Thirty kilometers from Cologne, the town has developed into a social hotspot over the past few years, with some of its 62,000 inhabitants struggling with the consequences of poverty. The social reportage takes a look at the town and shows the everyday lives of citizens on the edge of subsistence. The series starts on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at 8:15 p.m. on RTLZWEI.

The city, just thirty kilometers west of the Rhineland metropolis, was once the stronghold of brown coal. However, 6% of its 62,000 inhabitants are now unemployed, some of them for years.

One of them is Mario. The 51-year-old was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer eight months ago. But he is not only struggling with the serious illness, but also with the Jobcenter: The former self-employed man had to give up his job due to the cancer, but his application for Hartz IV has still not been approved. The financial pressure on him and his wife Rosa increases daily. The couple have already had to borrow several thousand euros to make ends meet.

21-year-old Dilara is also plagued by money worries. Since she was abandoned by the father of her two sons just a few days before the birth of her youngest, she has been looking after her children alone. As a full-time mother to two-year-old Issa and six-month-old Noah, Dilara is currently unable to work. She is therefore dependent on financial support from the state. But on payday, no money has arrived from the Jobcenter. How is the single mother supposed to pay her bills now?

HARTZ UND HERZLICH – BERGHEIM ran from April 28, 2020 to May 12, 2020 at 8:15 p.m. on RTLZWEI (3 episodes).

HARTZ UND HERZLICH returns to Rostock

HARTZ UND HERZLICH – DIE BLÖCKE AUS ROSTOCK GROSS KLEIN returns to Rostock Groß-Klein on January 7 at 8:15 pm. In three new episodes, the question of what has changed among the residents since the show aired in spring 2018 will be answered. In addition to new faces, there will also be a reunion with old acquaintances, including Manja and Martin. The couple, who are 16 years apart in age, finally want to get married. They got engaged two years ago, but were unable to walk down the aisle due to a spell in prison. Now Martin has been released from prison and is determined to finally marry Manja.

From fall to winter 2018, the camera teams were regularly on site and accompanied the residents in their everyday lives.

HARTZ UND HERZLICH – DIE BLÖCKE AUS ROSTOCK GROSS KLEIN ran from January 7, 2020 to January 21, 2020 at 8:15 p.m. on RTLZWEI (3 episodes).

In three episodes, the social documentary HARTZ UND HERZLICH, produced by UFA SHOW & FACTUAL, is dedicated to the “Altes Lager” district in Niedergörsdorf and gives residents who live on the edge of subsistence a chance to have their say. The result is harrowing insights, but also emotional moments full of warmth.

The community in the Brandenburg district of Teltow-Fläming has 1,600 people who are not in permanent employment. From the end of summer 2019 until early winter, camera teams followed local residents to paint a realistic picture of the reality of their lives.

One of them is 25-year-old Franziska, who is suffering greatly from the separation from her children. The youth welfare office took her two sons into care a few months ago. In addition to the exceptional emotional situation, this also puts a strain on the family budget: without children, Franziska has to get by on the Hartz IV standard rate of 424 euros. Her boyfriend Patrick, father of the youngest child, is also unable to support her financially – he has now been sanctioned due to several missed appointments at the job center.

Totti, 49, has been living as an early retiree since he was 18. A social worker allocates his scarce financial resources to him, and every Friday he receives 60 euros for the coming week. Totti spends most of his money on alcohol. Addiction has taken control of his life and his household is in disrepair. As a result, the early retiree is dependent on the help of Rainer and Kathrin, who have moved back to the “old camp” because they have never lost the warm contact with their friends.

HARTZ UND HERZLICH – NIEDERGÖRSDORF – ALTES LAGER ran from October 29, 2019 to November 12, 2019 at 8:15 p.m. on RTLZWEI (3 episodes).

Pirmasens in the West Palatinate: in the 1970s, the town once produced 40% of all shoes sold in Germany. Back then, a job in one of the many factories stood for prosperity and advancement. Today, hardly any other city in Germany is struggling so hard with structural change and problems: Every third child lives on Hartz IV, the unemployment rate is 11% and life expectancy is below the German average.

Patricia (42) has been unemployed for 19 years and lives off benefits. But the trained housekeeper’s benefits are now being cut because her husband Patrick (31) earns too much as a truck driver. The reduced income is driving the couple to the brink of ruin and endangering their marriage.

Jo knows how to get by on very little. The 20-year-old has been living on the streets for four years and receives no support from the authorities because he is still too young. He finds refuge in the local homeless shelter, but the Mainz native is threatened with expulsion.

Cindy (31) is also done with state help. The youth welfare office took her daughters away from her two years ago, since then she has been traumatized and can hardly go to the youth welfare office. The long-term unemployed woman is also very worried: she is pregnant with her third child and fears that this one will also be taken into care.

In the 1970s, the “shoe town” of Pirmasens stood for prosperity and an upswing. But hardly any other city in Germany is now struggling with structural change as much as this town in the Western Palatinate. Camera teams accompanied residents of the Winzler Viertel from summer to winter 2018 and painted a moving picture of the former model region.

HARTZ UND HERZLICH – DIE WINZLERVIERTEL VON PIRMASENS ran from May 14, 2019 to May 28, 2019 at 8:15 p.m. on RTLZWEI (3 episodes).

The RTL II social documentary HARTZ UND HERZLICH is returning to the Benz barracks in Mannheim for a second time. Back in 2017, the documentary followed the residents of the well-known block of flats and caused quite a stir. Now there is a reunion with Dagmar, Elvis and Beate. What has changed for them since then?

The highly acclaimed social documentary accompanied residents in their hard and deprived everyday lives – and left a lasting impression. Now the documentary returns to Mannheim and shows what has changed in the Benz barracks since then.

Reunion with Dagmar: the good soul of the estate continues to live alone in a small house. She watches wistfully as her old workplace, the kiosk, is demolished. She worked there for 15 years to supplement her low income. What little money she had is now gone.

Elvis and his wife Katrin are about to move house. The couple with seven children are allocated a new apartment and finally have their own bedroom. Without further ado, the family of nine packs their belongings into sacks and drives them to their new home in a handcart. However, the renovation there becomes a test of patience for Elvis.

For the production of the three-part series, camera teams were on location in Mannheim every day from late summer 2018 to the end of January 2019.

HARTZ UND HERZLICH – RÜCKKEHR IN DIE BENZ-BARACKEN ran from March 26, 2019 to April 9, 2019 at 8:15 p.m. on RTLZWEI (3 episodes).

The RTL II report HARTZ UND HERZLICH, which was produced over several months, focuses on the Blockmacherring in Rostock in the new episodes. The housing estate located in the “Groß Klein” district is home to thousands of people – many of whom live on the margins of society.

Among them are Sandra and her husband Tino. Both are fighting for their children, who were taken into care by the youth welfare office three years ago. The reason was their often chaotic and inappropriate household management. Both parents are suffering greatly from the loss – and are trying to change their lives.

Michaela is the mother of six children and lives in constant fear. Her violent ex-husband has assaulted her several times in the past. The fear of meeting him leaves its mark. She finds it increasingly difficult to manage everyday life for her children.

16-year-old Claudia has cystic fibrosis. Her mother looks after the teenager devotedly and the neighbors in the Blockmacherring also take a great interest in her fate. Together they underline this: The reality of life in Rostock’s Blockmacherring is characterized by hardship – yet the people stand together impressively.

HARTZ UND HERZLICH – DER BLOCKMACHERING VON ROSTOCK ran from May 29, 2018 to June 12, 2018 at 8:15 pm on RTLZWEI (3 episodes).

A year ago, HARTZ UND HERZLICH took a much-noticed look at the “Benz barracks” in Mannheim. Now the RTL II social documentary returns and meets the residents again.

What has changed since it was broadcast? How are people doing today? And what problems have been solved? The report gives an authentic impression of the “Benz barracks” in Mannheim. The elaborate report attracted a great deal of attention last year. The fate of the residents touched many people and stirred them up. One year after the broadcast, there is now a reunion with the residents: Petra and Marcus are happy about a new addition to their family. Daughter Francesca keeps the Hartz IV recipients on their toes, but the family still has to make do with little money. The parents also had to put up with a lot of criticism after the show aired last year. Petra and Marcus decide to change their lives. Dagmar still lives next door to them. The pensioner, who suffers from severe lung disease, impressed many with her courage and fighting spirit. The 78-year-old chopped the wood for her stove herself. She receives wood as a gift so that she doesn’t have to freeze again in winter. But she still fears for her livelihood: her job in the kiosk is in danger. The “Benz barracks” have never been a place to feel at home. A high crime rate and unemployment rate are the dominant issues in the estate. The reality of people’s lives is tough – yet they stand together impressively. And last but not least, they show a lot of warmth.

HARTZ UND HERZLICH – RÜCKKEHR IN DIE BENZ-BARACKEN ran from April 3, 2018 to April 17, 2018 at 8:15 p.m. on RTLZWEI (3 episodes).

The social documentary HARTZ UND HERZLICH – DIE PLATTENBAUTEN VON BITTERFELD-WOLFEN sheds light on the lives of people in the former chemical parks in three new episodes. Following the great response to the previous reports on the railroad housing estate in Duisburg and the Benz barracks in Mannheim, the focus is now once again on people’s everyday lives. The social documentary looks beyond the horizon and shows those who have been forgotten by society.

The “Benz barracks” have never been a place to feel at home. Today, unemployment and a high crime rate are the dominant issues on the estate. The apartments are simple and cheap. Not all of them have modern heating; some still have old wood-burning stoves for warmth. Dagmar and Markus are among those living here, battling against the approaching cold. In order to heat their stoves, they have to take care of their wood supplies. It’s a good thing that everyone in the Benz barracks supports each other. Things are less harmonious for Petra and Simone. Their long-simmering neighborhood dispute escalates into violence, which can only be ended by the intervention of the police. But even after that, the atmosphere remains charged.

About “Hartz und herzlich – Die Benz-Baracken von Mannheim”: Several camera teams were on location in Mannheim every day for four months and accompanied the residents of the housing estate from late summer until shortly before Christmas. Credible and authentic, very close up and without dramaturgical exaggeration. There are many oppressive moments, but also a lot of warmth with a large portion of humor – to be seen from 23 May, every Tuesday at 8:15 pm on RTL II.

HARTZ UND HERZLICH – DIE BENZ-BARACKEN VON MANNHEIM ran from May 23, 2017 to June 6, 2017 at 8:15 p.m. on RTLZWEI (3 episodes).

For the new documentary series, the UFA SHOW & FACTUAL camera teams were on location every day for four months and accompanied people in their everyday lives – capturing both oppressive moments and encounters full of heart and humor. The much-quoted “heart on the tongue” of the people in the Ruhr area becomes clear time and again.

The elaborate social documentary shows the reality of different people’s lives. There is the single trained housekeeper Marina (52), who can no longer work due to illness and is having more and more problems with the job center. Her daughter Nina (31) is the mother of four children and struggles through everyday life with the few resources available to her.

Former miner Frank (43) lives a few blocks away. He looks back on 13 hard years of service and has still not come to terms with the loss of his job. His neighbor and friend Olaf (46) stands by his side as a good buddy. He himself is not in the best of health, as he can hardly leave his apartment due to being massively overweight and ill. To put it in Frank’s words: “You have to rely on each other when you have little money”.

There is no longer a food market or a pub on the estate. Almost everything here has closed down – except for the “Siedlertreff” kiosk run by Julian (28), also known as “Julz”. He comments on the day-to-day business with a quick wit and humor and has an opinion on everything. Laborer Klaus (62) drinks his after-work beer here every day and dreams of the old days. Just like many other long-time residents who meet for a chat at the “Bude”. The long-term documentary focuses on people living in poverty, but also shows how traditions are preserved in the settlement.

HARTZ UND HERZLICH – DIE EISENBAHNSIEDLUNG VON DUISBURG aired on February 20, 2016 and February 27, 2016 at 8:15 pm on RTLZWEI (2 episodes).

The renewed “Rückkehr in die Benz-Baracken” achieved an excellent market share of 10.2 percent on average among 14 to 49-year-olds. This makes the social documentary one of RTLZWEI’s most successful programs.

• Theme evening in honor of Dagmar
• Best-of and demolition of her house in the Benz barracks
• HARTZ UND HERZLICH HERZENSMENSCH – DAGMAR AUS DEN BENZ-BARACKEN on September 30 at 8:15 p.m. on RTLZWEI and seven days in advance on RTL+

She was the good soul of the Benz barracks in Mannheim: Dagmar. In November 2021, the native of Thuringia died unexpectedly of a stroke. This loss came as a shock to her neighbors, friends and countless viewers. RTLZWEI is now dedicating an emotional best-of special to Dagmar and showing the best, funniest and most touching moments of the popular Mannheim resident. HARTZ UND HERZLICH HERZENSMENSCH – DAGMAR AUS DEN BENZ-BARACKEN on September 30 at 8:15 p.m. on RTLZWEI and seven days in advance on RTL+.

Dagmar – affectionately called “Daggi” by her friends – was far more than just a neighbor. With her open heart, her willingness to help and her tireless commitment to people and animals, she was known and admired far beyond the borders of Mannheim. For years, her little white house in the neighborhood was a meeting place for everyone: here you could get advice, borrow tools, get rid of worries – or simply have a laugh. No wonder her close friend Elvis once called her the “Mother Teresa of the Benz shacks”.

The production team sifted through many hours of footage for the special and put it together again: From Dagmar’s first appearances on HARTZ UND HERZLICH, her countless relief efforts, the self-sacrificing care of neighbor Johann, her journey into the past to Weimar to her very last shoot. The emotional journey is complemented by exclusive interviews – including with Dagmar’s brother Horst and the popular Mannheimers Elvis, Jonas, Michael and Lothar. They all remember a woman who shaped her environment with heart, humor and courage.

Following the special episode, RTLZWEI will show another episode of HARTZ UND HERZLICH – TAG FÜR TAG BENZ-BARACKEN, which will focus on Dagmar’s old house. In May 2025, the demolition of Dagmar’s little white house caused great sadness in the Benz barracks. Many barrackers hoped that the building could even remain as a small “Dagmar Museum”. But the announcement of its demolition in the fall of 2024 sealed the building’s fate. In May of this year, the excavator finally rolled out – numerous neighbors and friends came to say goodbye together.

The special episode HARTZ UND HERZLICH HERZENSMENSCH – DAGMAR AUS DEN BENZ-BARACKEN – on September 30 at 8:15 p.m. on RTLZWEI and seven days in advance on RTL+. The format is produced by UFA Show & Factual.

About HARTZ UND HERZLICH:

Through personal stories, emotional moments and the unembellished reality of life, HARTZ UND HERZLICH provides insights into the everyday lives of people from different regions of Germany who are struggling under difficult conditions with unemployment, limited educational opportunities and financial constraints. Despite the adversity, they refuse to give up hope for a better future.