Der Kommissar

Der Kommissar follows a Munich homicide squad as they solve cases in a city still rebuilding in the late 1960s. The show centers on Kommissar Herbert Keller, a calm, authoritative leader whose method blends patience with sharp instincts. Keller works with a tight team of detectives, including Walter Grabert and Robert Heines, while Harry Klein provides a keen procedural edge. In 1974 the younger Erwin Klein joins to replace Harry Klein, keeping the dynamic fresh without losing the core dynamic. Filmed in black and white, the series aired from 1969 to 1976, written by Herbert Reinecker and led by Erik Ode. Its tone blends dry humor with procedural grit, a balance that kept viewers returning week after week.

Produced in West Germany, the show debuted in 1969 and ran until 1976. Created by Herbert Reinecker, it presents a steady Munich homicide unit with Erik Ode in the lead, and a stable writing voice. The material is original rather than adapted.

Awards: There are no widely reported major nominations or wins for the series, reflecting its status as a reliable daytime drama rather than a prestige project. Its enduring footprint lies in popular memory and influence on viewers and creators within German crime storytelling.

Over its run the show left a cultural stamp beyond its episodes by shaping the look and rhythm of mid century police work on screen. It helped popularize the depiction of Munich's streets and police stations, and influenced later writers to foreground procedural craft in German TV crime.

Viewers appreciated the calm professional tone and the emphasis on evidence over melodrama, a contrast to the era's flashier thrillers. Critics praised solid character work, and the series remains a touchstone for fans of classic crime fiction in Germany, remembered for its dependable structure and trust in its cast.