Overview
- The episode airs on ZDF at 22:15 CET on December 2, with on-demand viewing in the broadcaster’s Mediathek afterward.
- Official figures cite about 28.8 million volunteers in Germany, roughly 40% of people aged 14 and over.
- Profiles include a young village mayor in Rhineland-Palatinate, a Frankfurt campaigner for safer cycling, and a North Sea lifesaver with the DGzRS.
- Sea rescue remains heavily volunteer-driven, with around 800 unpaid rescuers compared with about 200 full-time crew.
- Reporting highlights significant time commitments in some roles, such as 10–15 hours weekly in winter and up to 30 in summer, alongside public recognition through recent Berlin awards.