In a self-experiment, Henning Baum visits the German army for RTL. There is a lot of action and reflection in “What it means to be a soldier in the Bundeswehr”.
Frankfurt – For several years now, Henning Baum has been active without a script. In 2020, the actor, who has repeatedly embodied TV inspectors and brought the TV station Sat.1 a ratings and international sales success with the series “The Last Bull”, got to know the work of the real police force. This year, Baum became a part-time soldier, again for RTL. Not quite as long as most recruits who complete the voluntary service, but still long enough to gain more in-depth insights.
Baum and the team that accompanied him, a total of thirteen cameramen, took the task seriously. There are no privileges for the celebrity guest in basic training. He moves into a three-man room, learns how to build beds, is woken up at 5:30 a.m. by shouting, marches into the team shower.
He maintains discipline on duty and, like everyone else, answers “yes”. But, he has that advantage over his comrades, when the camera is present he speaks openly about grievances. Sometimes quite bluntly: “Whoever is responsible for this should have his ass spanked.” Baum’s tirade is about the food parcel that the recruits are given on the day of their arrival. It contains white bread, unhealthy, as Baum says every kindergarten child knows. He makes it clear to the editor: “The thing with the white bread, that comes in the show, I’ll tell you.”
“Deployment for Henning Baum” on RTL: Authentic experiences in the Bundeswehr
After trying on the uniform and taking over the equipment, Baum becomes thoughtful: “I’m not in any cheering mood here.” A defining statement. Baum doesn’t see his flying visit to the Bundeswehr as an adventure trip. He looks for authentic experiences, talks to new and experienced soldiers, reflects on what he has heard. Even more: He discusses his perceptions and information with the current Minister of Defense Christine Lambrecht, who, however, has only been in office since September 2021 and is therefore not responsible for previous omissions. Excerpts from the interview conducted by Baum are cut at the thematically appropriate points.
Of course, with a net 85-minute production like this, it’s also about strong images. And what could be more attractive than a flight in the Eurofighter? 74,000 hp, faster than sound. But you can’t just get into the fighting machine and fly off. Henning Baum goes through a medical program and has to withstand the pressure of 5 g in the centrifuge, which the test person compares with the weight of a horse, which weighs on every single cell in the body. “It’s no fun,” is his summary, and he freely admits afterwards that he feels uncomfortable. And it’s about to get worse.
But before that happens, Baum attends a swearing-in ceremony with the Navy and talks to Justin (21), Sophie (22) and Can (20) about their motivation and future plans.
Henning Baum visits the Bundeswehr for RTL: Memories of Afghanistan
A field exercise follows, a meeting with Afghanistan veterans. This is where things finally get serious. The three saw their comrades die, suffered mental illness, had to experience that people from their environment chose suicide after combat. Again it becomes clear what Baum had already put in a nutshell: “It’s not an adventure playground.”
Embedded is a report from Camp Castor in Mali, the current, highly dangerous foreign mission of the German Bundeswehr. Back in Germany, survival training follows, then the acid test: a steep, breathtaking ascent and a strategic maneuver with the Eurofighter. And it won’t be a cheerful celebrity top gun, even if music from the box-office hit plays softly in the background.
“Deployment for Henning Baum – what it means to be a soldier in the Bundeswehr”
Thursday, August 11, 2022, 8:15 p.m., RTL
“Operation for Henning Baum”: Bundeswehr report on RTL
Even without a screenplay, the stocky, virile mime proves to be an entertaining fellow and unpretentious reporter who bravely faces up to military service, but makes no secret of his not insignificant self-doubt and weaknesses. Baum shows self-mockery and even veritable journalistic qualities. “Einsatz für Henning Baum”, a production of RTL News GmbH, goes beyond superficial infotainment. The protagonist and the writing team Carolin Sedlak, Carmen Strieder, Christopher Grass and Ann Malo really have something to report. And deserves the attention it deserves. (Harold Keller)
Meanwhile, the second German television is dedicated to another exciting topic: The ZDF report “Less work, more life – is that possible?” is dedicated to the question of how employee wishes and the needs of the labor market can be reconciled.
