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No other sporting success has ever delighted and surprised Germans as much as the legendary 3:2 triumph over the highly favored Hungarians in the World Cup final on July 4, 1954.
For many contemporaries, the victory seemed like a fairy tale, for some it was even more, the "Miracle of Bern".
The film was awarded the German Television Prize in the Best Documentary category in 2004.
On July 4, millions of Germans waited in front of their radios for the redemptive words of radio reporter Herbert Zimmermann.
"Off, off, off. Over. The game is over. Germany are world champions."
The myth of the "Heroes of Bern" is quickly born, all Germans feel like world champions, the victory is celebrated as the actual birth of the Federal Republic of Germany.
However, the film does not end with the final whistle, but also shows what has become of the winners and the Hungarian losers.
The filmmakers also explore unpleasant topics such as the doping allegations against the German players.
Will the myth endure?
First broadcast: Tuesday, April 27, 2004, 8:15 p.m., ZDF
