A former soldier in the German army goes to war and joins the International Legion in Ukraine. According to President Selenskyj, he is one of about 20,000 men from more than 52 countries risking their lives for a country they barely know. He joined the Foreign Legion in a town in western Ukraine. “ARTE Re:” accompanied him there.

The 34-year-old man from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania served eight years as a soldier in the German army and toured to Afghanistan as a first responder and instructor. Just four days after the Russian offensive began, he said, he made the decision to leave his home. The images of destruction, the dead civilians and the many fleeing women and children had left him no other choice. As a former professional soldier he wants to offer his skills as a specialist. He clearly distances himself from people whom he calls “right-wing-extremists or conspiracy theorists”. What are his motivations? Does he want to defend Ukraine or democracy in Europe? And how does that even work, joining a foreign army?

“ARTE Re:” meets him in his tranquil hometown on the Mecklenburg Lake District and accompanies him as he prepares: packing his equipment, saying goodbye to friends and clearing the last bureaucratic hurdles with the Ukrainian consulate. On his subsequent journey toward Ukraine, he meets other Legionnaires and fugitives. Across the border, he eventually joins the Legion of Foreign Fighters. A journey into the unknown.

A film by Sebastian Weis

Camera & Sound Sebastian Weis
Editor Anja Degenhardt
Producers Nele Huff, Izzy Hughes-Morgan
Production Assistent Philipp Fischer
Executive Producer Antje Boehmert
Commissioning Editor Susanne Mertens

A production of DOCDAYS Productions for ZDF/ARTE

Length: 32 min
Release Date: 2022