Inspired by real life: Erzgebirge thriller "Winter Murder"

An investor wants to boost ski tourism in the Ore Mountains with a major project. While some people smell big business, others are concerned about nature and reject the plans in view of climate change. The lift lobbyist believes that resistance can be overcome with money. But then he is found dead in his car and the suitcase of money has disappeared. What should look like an accident calls the investigative team Robert Winkler (Kai Scheve) and Karina Szabo (Lara Mandoki) onto the scene. It will not be the only corpse in this criminal case.

"Winter Murder" can be seen today at 8.15 pm on ZDF - it is the eleventh episode of the highly rated "Erzgebirgskrimis". This time it is set in Saxony's largest alpine ski resort on the Fichtelberg in Oberwiesenthal.

However, during filming last February and March, the film crew struggled to capture snow-covered winter landscapes. While forester Saskia Bergelt (Teresa Weißbach) initially trudges through a winter forest when she finds the dead man, the area then turns gray and brown. Only on the ski slopes, where snow cannons are used to help, is it sometimes white.

Large-scale project with a real-life model

In the thriller, a lift operator from Tyrol wants to build a ski swing - a cable car from Fichtelberg to Keilberg on the Czech side to attract more skiers to the region and ensure full hotels. Because Oberwiesenthal lives from tourism. The whole thing has a real-life example. In the spa town, a "country swing" between the two peaks has actually been discussed in the past.

However, it is not only young people who are opposing this by occupying the forest with a climate camp. The plans are also in danger of failing due to a stubborn forest owner (Herbert Olschok). He refuses to give up his land, which has been in his family for generations. But what role does hotel owner Henri Schütz (Harald Windisch), who hopes the project will attract many new guests, play? Or Colette Lieberwirth (Nora Waldstätten), the forest owner's much younger second wife?

Meanwhile, the liaison between Inspector Winkler and forester Bergelt is not going well. At the end of the last episode, the inspector went on a pilgrimage and didn't contact her for months. Now the investigation brings them together again.

However, the forester is angry with him and meets her former childhood sweetheart Eric Weber (Hannes Wegener) again. The inspector, gripped by jealousy, investigates his past and comes across a series of previous convictions. While he also resorts to dishonest methods, Weißbach rebuffs him in no uncertain terms. In general, the forester appears more biting, which is good for the role.

Thomas Thieme becomes a permanent guest in the Erzgebirgskrimi

Fans of the Erzgebirgskrimi will probably miss one familiar face, however: Andreas Schmidt-Schaller, who previously played the old forester. He no longer appears in the new episode. It is only said that he is spending the winter in the south for health reasons. In fact, the 79-year-old has left the show for health reasons, ZDF announced on request. He will be replaced by Thomas Thieme, who will move into the idyllic forester's lodge as Saskia Bergelt's uncle.

Thieme, born in 1948, is known from films such as "Downfall" and "The Lives of Others" and has also portrayed former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl. This is not his first appearance in the Erzgebirgskrimi. He was already seen as the mayor in the 2021 episode "Der Tote im Burggraben".