The Special Forces Command (KSK) is the Bundeswehr’s most secret unit and, at the same time, its most controversial. Torn from the outset between military secrecy and criticism from Parliament and the public, the KSK – a unit characterised in equal measure by crises and legends – will celebrate its thirtieth anniversary in 2026.
Originally founded to rescue German hostages abroad, the KSK was soon deployed to many crisis zones – and viewed with suspicion at home as a result.
Active and three former commandos provide an insight into the isolated world of this elite unit – interwoven with footage of one of the few KSK operations that may be discussed publicly: ‘Operation Mondlicht’ in Afghanistan in 2012.
Philipp Schaaf from Saxony spent years as an elite soldier, serving as an instructor and as part of the unit, before becoming the symbol of the biggest scandal in 2021. Hoarded ammunition and explosives found in his garden led to his conviction at Leipzig Regional Court – and, following various allegations linked to right-wing extremism, plunged the KSK once and for all into a self-inflicted crisis that is only slowly subsiding.
As elite soldiers, Philipp, Christian and Mike all shared the same dream: they wanted to be among the best of the best. In an exclusive interview, they offer an insight into the inner workings of this elite unit – from the notorious ‘Hell Week’ through secret commando operations in the Balkans and Afghanistan to the deep crisis caused by allegations of right-wing extremism that have plagued the unit from the very beginning. Their stories are about the unwavering determination to put duty above all else, about gruelling selection processes and endless waiting games. The film also explores broken marriages and shattered dreams, and the difficult search for a new life.
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