ZDF Enterprises

Horrific crimes were committed in Germany during 1945-1949 as the country lay in ruins, following the end of World War II. Leading experts and criminal investigators take a look at some of the most notorious criminal cases of the post-war era, and the dubious judicial processes of the time, in both West and East Germany.

Examining that turbulent period from a new angle, the series paints an intriguing, as well as shocking, portrait of life in a war torn society where self-preservation overrules moral and ethical considerations. Historical documents, archive footage, interviews with witnesses, new material filmed at crime locations and reenactments combine to make Lawless a documentary that audiences will find compelling and emotional.