The BND File: The Secret Service and Its First Arms Dealer (2019)
In occupied post-war Germany, the ex-paratrooper and former SS man Gerhard Mertins rises to become a powerful arms dealer. He has many contacts in the Middle East and with old Nazi greats, a man who therefore becomes interesting for secret services. He starts right after the Second World War as a simple taxi entrepreneur in Bremerhaven, but soon he does best business with the German secret service BND and also the American CIA. Until today many files about Mertins are secret. Because against German laws, against international law, Mertins moved weapons into war zones with the backing and sometimes on behalf of the German secret service BND. For almost two years, the team around author Rainer Kahrs did research for the film. For the first time, the BND granted a camera team access to files on Gerhard Mertins, the first BND arms dealer. For the first time, Mertins' wife and daughter also speak in front of the camera.
Cast
- Niels Stolberg - Self
- Erich Schmidt-Eenboom - Self
- Viktor Yushchenko - Self
- Mykola Malomuzh - Self
- David E.A. Johnson - Self, executive director, Center for Advanced Defense Studies
- Frank Passade - Self, executive director, Center for Advanced Defense Studies
- Luuk van de Vondervoort - Self, European Institute for Peace
- André Hahn - Self
- Volodimir Kalinin - Self, security administrator, Port of Oktyabrsk, Ukraine
- Bruno Kahl - Self, president of German Federal Intelligence Service
Screenplay
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is The BND File: The Secret Service and Its First Arms Dealer about?
- In occupied post-war Germany, the ex-paratrooper and former SS man Gerhard Mertins rises to become a powerful arms dealer. He has many contacts in the Middle East and with old Nazi greats, a man who therefore becomes interesting for secret services. He starts right after the Second World War as a simple taxi entrepreneur in Bremerhaven, but soon he does best business with the German secret service BND and also the American CIA. Until today many files about Mertins are secret. Because against German laws, against international law, Mertins moved weapons into war zones with the backing and sometimes on behalf of the German secret service BND. For almost two years, the team around author Rainer Kahrs did research for the film. For the first time, the BND granted a camera team access to files on Gerhard Mertins, the first BND arms dealer. For the first time, Mertins' wife and daughter also speak in front of the camera.
- Who directed The BND File: The Secret Service and Its First Arms Dealer?
- The BND File: The Secret Service and Its First Arms Dealer was directed by Rainer Kahrs.
- Who stars in The BND File: The Secret Service and Its First Arms Dealer?
- The BND File: The Secret Service and Its First Arms Dealer stars Niels Stolberg, Erich Schmidt-Eenboom, Viktor Yushchenko, Mykola Malomuzh, David E.A. Johnson, Frank Passade.
- How long is The BND File: The Secret Service and Its First Arms Dealer?
- The BND File: The Secret Service and Its First Arms Dealer has a runtime of 45m (45 minutes).
- What genre is The BND File: The Secret Service and Its First Arms Dealer?
- The BND File: The Secret Service and Its First Arms Dealer is a Documentary film.
- Where was The BND File: The Secret Service and Its First Arms Dealer produced?
- The BND File: The Secret Service and Its First Arms Dealer was produced in Germany.