DOCUMENTARY: With German combat swimmers in Africa

"Gretel" is a combat swimmer, his real name is never mentioned, and his face will never be fully shown. He is 30 years old, a reserved, unusually alert man. You can immediately tell that he studied business administration. But he can also do other things. He can kill silently, jump from airplanes, dive from submarines, fight in all climates, spy on enemies, and treat wounds. He learned all of this in an extremely tough training that only five to six soldiers survive each year. Now it's serious. He is going on a mission to Niger.

Combat swimmers against human traffickers and terrorists in Niger

Since 2016, a wave of terrorist attacks has spilled over from Mali across the poorly fortified border into the extremely poor Niger. Militias from ISIS, al-Qaeda, and Boko Haram raid nigerian villages almost daily and massacre the civilian population. In addition, Niger is the transit country on the escape route from southern Africa to the Mediterranean coast. The army is weak and can do little against human traffickers, drug smugglers, and terrorists. Now Gretel and his team of combat swimmers are supposed to help.

German soldiers are training nigerian special forces

In Tillia, about 70 kilometers east of the border with Mali, the combat swimmers have set up their camp in scorching heat. Here, since 2018, as part of the EU training mission "Gazelle," they have been training nigerian special forces. The goal is to stabilize the crisis-ridden country. For months, German politicians have debated the missions in Mali and Niger. In Mali, a Russia-friendly military junta has seized power. The security situation in the entire region is worsening. But now it is clear: the German elite fighters are to remain in Niger. For this report, the film crew followed combat swimmers from preparation to deployment for an entire year. Never before have the combat swimmers allowed such proximity.

Note: Some of you have asked about it: The documentary was filmed and edited between August 2021 and February 2022 (broadcast). It was slightly updated last week before being released here.

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