Disney+ isn’t usually known for its gritty period crime dramas, so its latest TV offering, The Breslau Murders, has us especially intrigued. Sherlock fans, take note as the polished, historical crime-solving series is set to introduce us to a strangely alluring new detective known as Franz Podolsky, who, amidst the rise of the Nazis in Germany, must investigate a horrific murder. Think Sherlock, but (a lot) darker.
The Polish original drama is set in 1936 in the German-controlled city of Breslau (now known as Wrocław in Poland) just as Nazi power is rising. At the heart of it is police commissioner, Franz Podolsky, of Polish origin, who despises the Third Reich. At the behest of his SS superiors and as the Olympic Games approach, he must crack a chilling murder case - and the pressure is on to do it rapidly.
While we wait for The Breslau Murders to arrive on Disney+, here’s everything you need to know about the series, including the cast, plot and release date.
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What is The Breslau Murders about?
This eight-part series is Disney+’s first original production in Central and Eastern Europe, and is set in 1936 in Breslau (the German name for the Polish city of Wrocław). Amidst the rise of the Nazis across Germany, the 11th Olympic Games in Breslau are approaching, and the eyes of the world are on the capital of the Third Reich. At the same time, police commissioner Franz Podolsky (Tomasz Schuchardt) finds himself working overtime to solve the horrific murder of a Polish athlete at a hotel.
You see, the murder threatens to disrupt the city (and the whole propaganda campaign) just as the Olympic Games approach, so the pressure is really on for Franz to find the killer. No one is more of aware of that than his superior, the SS officer Johan Holtz, who pules the pressure on. Meanwhile, Podolsky’s wife Lena also becomes embroiled in the search for the criminal.
According to Disney+’s official synopsis: “The only one who can close the investigation in time is the police commissioner of Polish origin Franz Podolsky, who despises the Third Reich but feels duty-bound to bring the killer to justice. Known for his controversial but effective methods, Podolsky finds himself face to face with the emerging evil. While facing his own demons, he begins a dangerous game of cat and mouse with the murderer, threatening both his career and personal life.”
What actually happened in Wrocław/Breslau during the 1930s?
In the 1930s, the city we now know as Wrocław was not in Poland but was under German control - then known by its German name, Breslau. The city was originally Polish, but became Germanised from the 13th century onwards. The ‘30s saw the rise of the Nazi regime, and after Hitler came to power in 1933, Breslau underwent extreme Nazification. It became one of the strongest support bases of the Nazi Party in Europe, and Jewish residents were persecuted.
Immediately after World War II in 1945, Wrocław became part of Poland again under the Potsdam agreement. Its German population was expelled and its name reverted to the Polish form of Wrocław. The city was repopulated with Poles, many from areas annexed by the Soviet Union.
Who’s in the cast of The Breslau Murders?
The cast of The Breslau Murders includes:
- Tomasz Schuchardt
- Sandra Drzymalska
- Ireneusz Czop
- Agata Kulesza
- Przemysława Bluszcza
- Adam Bobik
- Karolina Gruszka
- Jakub Sierenberg
- Bartłomiej Deklewa
- Piotr Janusz
Is there a trailer for The Breslau Murders?
Yes, you can watch the trailer for The Breslau Murders below.
How can I watch The Breslau Murders?
There’s not long to wait! The Breslau Murders will be available to watch on Disney+ on Friday 12th September. It will consist of eight episodes.
What other period dramas can I watch now?
If you're after a period drama of a different kind, the latest series of The Gilded Age provides all the gossip and scandal of late 19th century New York as the Industrial Revolution took hold. For equal parts entertainment and escapism, Yorkshire rags-to-riches drama The Hardacres is also a great watch and has just been renewed for a second series. You can catch up on series 1 on 5.
