25 The Documentary "Searching for Winnetou" comes to German television

"Winnetou – Der deutsche Indianer " (the German title) is about the Indian enthusiasm of the Germans. It will be first broadcast on Winnetou's fictional 145th birthday: September 2, 2019

Canadian author Drew Hayden Taylor (Photo: ZDF Enterprises / HISTORY)

What do North American Native Americans and Karl May's character Winnetou have in common? Where does the fondness of many Germans for the Indians come from? Two years ago, Canadian writer Drew Hayden Taylor, a member of the First Nations himself, decided to travel to Germany to meet with local Native Americans for his TV documentary "Searching for Winnetou." to deal with Karl May and his fascination of the American West. Following in the footsteps of Germans' indigenous love, Taylor drove across the republic: from Bad Segeberg via Pullman City to Radebeul. And he meets ex-Winnetou actor Gojko Mitic for an interview.

In the western town of Pullman City in the Bavarian Forest, Taylor met hobbyists who dress like prairie Indians there and try to convey their culture, but also the fate of the North American natives. And so, too, the Canadian author met other natives who perform dances and answer the park visitors' questions about the history of their ancestors.

At the Karl May Museum Radebeul curator Robin Leipold showed the filmmaker Villa Bärenfett and Villa "Shatterhand." "For the Germans, Winnetou is like Superman," said Robin Leipold. Previously, Taylor was convinced seeing a performance of "Old Surehand" Karl May Games Bad Segeberg the Superman status of Winnetou, then still embodied by Jan Sosniok. The Canadian author also spoke with the scientists Prof. Dr. med. Hartmut Lutz (University of Greifswald) and Maryann Henck (Leuphana University Lüneburg) - and with the Native Red Haircrow, who himself made a documentary ("Forget Winnetou") and who considers the American Indian hobbyists extremely critical.

Now comes the 45-minute documentary for the first time on German television. Under the title "Winnetou - The German Indian" it will show on the History TV channel (receivable via Sky, Vodafone, Telekom / Magenta, Unitymedia) on Monday, September 2, 2019, at 19.20 o’clock - and so, it goes to Karl May, on the 145th anniversary of the death of Winnetou: May 1899 had written for his readers: "Winnetou was born in 1840 and was shot on 9/2/1874."

The station repeats "Winnetou - The German Indian" on Sunday, December 1, 2019, on the occasion of the annual exhibition "The Germans and their Indians" of the Karl May Museum Radebeul (12/1/2019 to 11/29/2020).