“The day after Alfred Herrhausen’s murder, I wanted to make a film about it,” says German producer Gabriela Sperl. “Because I knew the official story we were being told just wasn’t the truth.”
This was in 1986 when Herrhausen, the charismatic chairman of the board of Deutsche Bank, was assassinated. His armored Mercedes-Benz was blown up by a 15 lbs bomb hidden in a bag on a bicycle parked next to his daily route. The shocking act of assassination was quickly blamed on the Red Army Faction (RAF), a far-left German terror group.
However, many details of the case didn’t add up. The RAF, in its “third generation” at the time, was not known for its tactical expertise, and the Herrhausen bombing seemed too sophisticated for them. Furthermore, Herrhausen, despite being a banker, was a progressive who advocated for debt relief for third-world countries. He had even negotiated a secret loan agreement with the Soviet Union to keep their economy afloat in exchange for their support of German reunification.
Over the years, the question of who killed Alfred Herrhausen and why has fascinated German true crime fans and has become the subject of numerous conspiracy theories. Andres Veiel’s award-winning documentary, Black Box BRD, explored the lives of Herrhausen and Wolfgang Grams, an RAF terrorist believed to be involved in the assassination. However, details of the killing itself were skimmed over.
German producer Gabriela Sperl had been in contact with Herrhausen’s widow over the years and finally received her permission to tell the story. The result is the limited series Herrhausen — The Banker and The Bomb, which recently premiered at the Munich Film Festival and won the prize for best mini-series. The series tells the speculative story of Herrhausen’s assassination and its aftermath, offering an authentic depiction of German history combined with a gripping narrative style.
The lead role of Alfred Herrhausen is played by Oliver Masucci, known for his roles in Look Who’s Back and Netflix’s Dark. Masucci, who lived through the period depicted in the series, recalls the turbulent time and how the assassination of Herrhausen affected him personally. He witnessed the assassination of Gerold von Braunmühl, a senior West-German diplomat, just a few hundred feet from his home. This event shattered Masucci’s perception of the world and led him to distrust ideologies and question authority.
In his research for the role, Masucci found a personal connection to Herrhausen. Both share an impatience to protest social conventions and constraints, as well as a desire for faster change and progress. They both see capitalism as a means to make society better, rather than an end in itself. Masucci believes that Herrhausen’s radical ideas, such as debt relief for poor countries, were ahead of his time.
Playing a heroic capitalist in a time when bankers and corporate executives are demonized is a radical portrayal, according to Masucci. He believes that Herrhausen’s ability to see perspectives other than his own is essential for progress. Masucci has played various real-life figures from German history, but he always approaches his characters from their story and character, looking for parallels with himself.
The series is set during the Cold War, a time when West Germany was trying to reach out to the Soviets, something Herrhausen supported. However, shortly before production began, Russia invaded Ukraine, which changed the context of the story. Masucci believes that the Cold War is resurfacing, and the line of “transformation through trade,” which was prevalent during Herrhausen’s time, is now being challenged.
In conclusion, Herrhausen — The Banker and The Bomb is a gripping limited series that tells the story of Alfred Herrhausen’s assassination and its aftermath. It challenges the official story and explores the unanswered questions surrounding the case. With an authentic depiction of German history and a modern storytelling style, the series sheds light on a little-known chapter in German true crime and offers valuable insights into the era of terrorism and political unrest.