Alarm für Cobra 11 – Die Autobahnpolizei

Alarm für Cobra 11 –; Die Autobahnpolizei
Genre	Action, Crime drama
Country of origin	Germany
Original language(s)	German
No. of seasons	19
No. of episodes	274
Production
Running time	ca. 45 minutes-Pilot movies 90 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	RTL Television
Original run	March 12, 1996 – present

Alarm für Cobra 11 – Die Autobahnpolizei (German pronunciation: [aˈlaʁm fyːɐ ˈkoːbʁa ˌɛlf di ˈaʊ̯tobaːnpɔlɪˌt͡saɪ̯]; English: Alarm for Cobra 11 – The Highway Police) is a long-running, popular German television series about a two-man team of highway police (Autobahnpolizei), originally set in Berlin and later in North Rhine-Westphalia. The series has been broadcast in countries worldwide.

Cast[edit]

The original cast featured Johannes Brandrup as Frank Stolte and Rainer Strecker as Ingo Fischer. Fischer left the series just two episodes later and his replacement became Erdoğan Atalay as Semir Gerkhan.

Brandrup quit the series at the end of Season 1. The television network RTL, which carries the series, contracted Mark Keller as André Fux in his place. Keller left the series at the end of Season 3 and was replaced by René Steinke as Tom Kranich. He played the role between the seasons 4–6, then decided to quit to try other roles.

Atalay's new partner became Christian Oliver as Jan Richter in Seasons 7–8. When he left the series to build his career in the US, RTL turned to Steinke, who agreed to return at the beginning of Season 9. However, Steinke decided not to renew his contract, and left the series again at the end of Season 10. His replacement is actor Gedeon Burkhard as Chris Ritter. Burkhard is best known as Alexander Brandtner in another Austrian-German police show, Inspector Rex.

In season 13 Burkhard was replaced by Tom Beck as Ben Jäger. In 2013 Mark Keller returned for one 90 minute Pilot episode. In season 19 Beck was replaced by Vinzenz Kiefer as Alex Brandt, the new partner for Semir, who will drive a Mercedes-Benz C117 with license plate D:CL 3508

Character	Role	Seasons	Actor
Kriminalhauptkommissar Frank Stolte	detective	s.1	Johannes Brandrup
Kriminalhauptkommissar Ingo Fischer	detective	s.1 (ep.1–2)	Rainer Strecker
Detective Chief Katharina Lamprecht	boss	s.1,s. 2 (ep.1–6)	Almut Eggert
Kriminalkommissar/Kriminaloberkommissar/Kriminalhauptkommissar Semir Gerkhan	detective, Nazan′s ex-boyfriend, father of Lili, Aida and Dana, Andrea′s husband.	s.1- (ep.3-)	Erdoğan Atalay
Kriminaloberkommissar/Kriminalhauptkommissar André Fux	detective	s.2–3, s.18 (ep.1)	Mark Keller
Kriminaloberkommissar/Kriminalhauptkommissar Tom Kranich	detective	s.4–6, 9–10	René Steinke
Kriminalkommissar Jan Richter	detective	s.7–8	Christian Oliver
Kriminalhauptkommissar Chris Ritter	detective	s.11–12	Gedeon Burkhard
Kriminalhauptkommissar Ben Jäger	detective, Semir′s colleague and great friend.	s.13-18	Tom Beck
Kriminalhauptkommissar Alex Brandt	detective	s.19-	Vinzenz Kiefer

Character	Actor	Position	Seasons
Character	Actor	Position	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19
Frenk Stolte	Johannes Brandrup	Detective	Main
Ingo Fisher	Rainer Strecker	Detective	Main
Semir Gerkham	Erdoğan Atalay	Detective	Main
Katharina Lamprecht	Almut Eggert	Detective chief	Main	Recurring
André Fux	Mark Keller	Detective		Main																Guest
Tom Cranich	René Steinke	Detective				Main					Main
Jan Richter	Christian Oliver	Detective							Main
Chris Ritter	Gedeon Burkhard	Detective											Main
Ben Jäger	Tom Beck	Detective													Main
Alex Brandt	Vienzenz Kiefer	Detective																			Main

Characters[edit]

The first two detectives: Frank Stolte & Ingo Fischer[edit]

In two first episodes the main characters were Frank Stolte and Ingo Fischer. Frank was transferred from the Special Bomb forces to the Autobahn Patrol for insubordination. However, he had grown used to being a detective, so things went well for him in his short-term career. Ingo was killed by a shotgun blast to the chest in the second episode (Red Roses, Black Death); all that was known after his death was that he was a detective chief inspector of great value. Frank left the force after the last Season 1 episode for an unknown reason.

Semir Gerkhan[edit]

Semir Gerkhan is the main character and one of the cops who stayed on the force from the beginning to the end. He became Frank's second partner in the 3rd episode of Season 1. He is best known for driving his BMW 3 series undercover cars throughout his career. He also owns numerous exotic cars outside of work but had terrible things happen to them. (BMW crashed, Ferrari F355 Spider stolen). He is serious and will do whatever it takes to get the job done. For some episodes, after his partner dies or leaves the force, Semir leaves the force for a short period of time to recover from disappointment (Andre, Chris, and Ben).

Andre Fux[edit]

Cobra 11 Detective[edit]

In series 2 Semir's new partner became Andre Fux. He has a black belt in karate, which makes him amazing when it comes to close-quarters combat. Andre also has performed a techno version of the song "Abracadabra". He was wounded in Maiorca after being shot in the chest with a harpoon gun, only to be found by a farmer washed at shore later.

2013 Pilot episode[edit]

In 2013, Andre returns in the pilot episode "Auferstehung". He is seen to have saved Semir and one of his daughters from being killed by terrorists in a tunnel. When he returns to the precinct, he explains to Semir that he has started a new life and has begun his career undercover for the BKA. In the middle of the episode's investigation, he fails to save a woman who was said to play an important role in the case. Ben Jäger, Semir's partner, is furious, and uses excessive force on Andre, only to be deterred by Semir. Later, Semir finds out that Andre is working for an underground criminal group. In the end, after Semir and Andre wind up in a car accident that sends them dangling over a cliff, Andre puts an electronic device into Semir's sleeve, and says to his partner, "See you, my friend.", releasing his grip from Semir's arm as he crashes down the cliff and dies for the last time.

Tom Kranich[edit]

While Tom Kranich, Andre's successor first introduced in "Höllenfahrt auf der A4", is one of the more outgoing guys on the force, Semir is serious. He also has a forgiving personality due to the fact that he forgave a female driver despite that she wrecked his mountain bike on his first day commute to work. He emotionally left the force in the episode "Abschied".

Semir was forced to look for Tom again after Jan Richter left. Tom agreed to go back and he used Jan's car. He was killed in action shortly after in the pilot episode "Auf Leben und Tod" in an attempt to save a young girl from a gunshot.

Jan Richter[edit]

Jan Richter was introduced as Semir's new partner in the episode "Feuertauf" shortly after Tom's emotional withdraw. He was the young equivalent to Semir's experience. Jan was introduced as a rookie in crime, who later switched his job to the Autobahn Patrol. He left the force shortly after in "Extrem".

Chris Ritter[edit]

Chris Ritter, who was originally a police officer working undercover as "Mark Jäger", became Semir's partner after Tom died in the episode "Auf Leben Und Tod". With the new partner, the adventure continues. Because Chris tends to use solo efforts to get the job done, he and Semir had problems in their relationship. However, it improves greatly as they continue to work together. His off-work car is unknown. Chris worked without Semir in the episodes "Infrakt" and "Leben und Leben Lassen".

At the end of the episode "Unter Feinden", Chris was killed by a mafia leader known as Sander Kalvus while he saved an ex-colleague he knew as Tanja. With his death, Semir chased Kalvus for months.

Ben Jäger[edit]

Ben Jäger succeeded Chris and was introduced in the following episode, "Auf Eigene Faust". He is characterised as being an ambitious, often rebellic young officer and the counterpart to Semir's behaviour. He shows up just when Semir is going to bring the main witness in Berlin to testify against the mafia leader who killed Chris. Semir is first distrustful of him, but then they soon grow up to be good friends.

Ben resigned from his police career in "Einsame Entscheidung" to continue his musical career in the U.S.A., and for this reason, he was given a guitar signed by his colleagues before he left. He is then shown to be performing a song known as "This Time" in Hollywood with a group known as "The Backseats", while Semir leaves the force to recover from two problems: that Ben has left the force, and that Andrea (Semir's former wife) has separated with him completely.

Alexander "Alex" Brandt[edit]

After 2 years in prison for drug deals, Alex Brandt starts a new life in "Revolution". He is characterised with a personality mixed with Andre's and Semir's behaviors; rowdy at times, but willing to get the job done. Alex is first shown leaving prison in the pilot episode of Season 35. However he owned a gun and a Police ID in his shack, which means he serves the law. He seems to have a good-bad relationship with Semir at first, but later, they become coexistent and cooperative with each other. Sometimes, in a hurry before taking up a chase, he will even take the wheel of Semir's car, using manual shift and scrapping it very few times. Alex also has a relationship with a young boy named Felix Neuberger, who will have recurring appearances after the pilot episode "Die dunkle Seite".

Assisting Officers[edit]

Dieter "Bonnie" Bonrath serves as the Cobra 11 team's backup officer throughout his career.

In the episode "Ausgelöscht, Teil 1" (Fallout, Part 1), Dieter was killed in a sniper's attack, in which he was engulfed in the flames of an explosion of a wrecked patrol car.

Dieter's former partner was an obese, bearded officer named Horst "Hotte" Herzberger.

In the episode "72 Stunden Angst" (72 Hours Of Fear), Hotte wanted to retire from the force, having served 43 years, but wanted to solve one last case. During this case Hotte, in an attempt to save Ben pushes him out of the sights of a drug dealer's assault rifle, only to be shot in the chest himself. He dies a few minutes later with Bonrath, Ben, Semir and Kim Krüger (their boss) at his side.

Jennifer "Jenny" Dorn became Bonrath's partner in succession for Herzberger. She currently has a relationship with Hartmut Freund, the forensics expert of the police force.

Team vehicles[edit]

The list below is put in the order of the detectives by the time they joined the police squad of Cobra 11; the cars are listed in the order they were used, as well as their license plates. There are also some cars that are used only once/twice in the film series. Most of the cars were used by Semir.

Frank Stolte: Audi 100 C3 (BRB-E 283, BRB-A 404, TG-A 257); BMW 8 series (P-RT 241); BMW E36 325ts (BRB-E 283)

Ingo Fischer: Ford Sierra (BRB-A 404)

Semir Gerkhan: BMW E36 328i (HVL-S 199 [black], UB-E 438 [switched to silver], B-PV 185, NE-DR 8231); BMW E39 523i (B-UL 473, B-PW 185); BMW E46 330i (NE-/:DR 8231); BMW E53 X5 (NE-FL 208, NE:TL 3737 [somehow recovered after "Forever and Ever"]) BMW E90 330i, 320si (NE:DR 8231, NE:TL 3737, D:BM 3308); BMW E84 X1 (K:CM 296, K:ES 453) BMW E71 X6 (D:HB 1711) Mercedes W209 CLK 320 (D:AA 119); Mercedes-Benz W164 ML 350 (D:AA 119); Skoda Octavia Type 1Z (D:AM 391); BMW E83 X3 (NE:TL 3737, K:LO 157); BMW E91 330i (K:OP 270); BMW F30 328i (D:BM 3308, D:EH 304); BMW F25 X3 (K:QK 789, K:MN 774); BMW E70 X5 (D:CE 925); BMW F10 535i (D:BM 3308)

Andre Fux: BMW E36 328i (B-DW 8271); Mercedes-Benz W202 C180 (B-DW 8271); Mercedes W208 CLK 320 (B-DV 8271, NE-LK 3470); BMW E39 528i (NE-KH 6321)

Dieter Bonrath, Hotte Herzberger, and Jenny Dorn: Porsche 996 Carrera (AP-7639, NRW:4-180); Skoda Octavia Type 1U (K:MR 1212, DA:X 9783, K:EA 3245) Skoda Octavia Type 1Z (D:AX 9382, DA:X 5879); Mercedes W211 (NRW:4-110); Porsche Cayenne Turbo (NRW:4-180); Land Rover Range Rover (NRW:4-180, NRW:4 455); Porsche Cayenne Turbo S (NRW:4 392, NRW:4 418); Porsche 991 Carrera 4S (NRW:4 335)

Tom Kranich: Mercedes W208 CLK 320 (NE-LK 3470); Mercedes W209 CLK 320 (NE:LK 3470)

Jan Richter: Mercedes W208 CLK 320 (NE-LK 3470); Volkswagen Passat B2 (K:PE 4129) Mercedes W209 CLK 320 (NE:LK 3470)

Chris Ritter: Mercedes W209 CLK 320 (NE:LK 3470, D:BD 2408 in 'Infrakt'); Ford Mondeo Mk I (K:CC 549) Mercedes W204 C350 (D:BD 2408); Audi A4 B5 (D:HD 1007)

Ben Jäger: Mercedes W204 C350 (D:BD 2408); Mercedes-Benz C207 (D:BD 2408) (wrecked in "Einsame Entscheidung"); BMW F30 328i (D:JE 5127); Mercedes-Benz X164 GL 500 (D:JE 5127); BMW F34 GT 335i (D:CE 928)

Alex Brandt: Mercedes-Benz C117 CLA 250 (D:CL 3508)

Episodes[edit]

Preamble[edit]

The opening titles of the first 158 episodes (1996-2006) had the following preamble:

Ihr Revier ist die Autobahn (Their precinct is the autobahn)
Ihr Tempo ist mörderisch (They work at break-neck speed)
Ihre Gegner: Autoschieber, Mörder und Erpresser (They're up against car thieves, burglars, and extortionists)
Einsatz rund um die Uhr für die Männer von Cobra 11 (They're on call around the clock: the men of Cobra 11)
Unsere Sicherheit ist ihr Job (Our safety is their job).

During Episodes 159-243 (2007-2012), the preamble was:

Ihr Revier ist die Autobahn (Their precinct is the autobahn)
Ihr Einsatz heißt: volles Tempo (Their mission: full speed)
Ihre Gegner von heute: extrem schnell und gefährlich (Their enemies today: extremely fast and dangerous)
Verbrechen ohne Limit – Jeder Einsatz volles Risiko (Crimes without limit – every job at full risk)
für die Männer von Cobra 11 (for the men of Cobra 11).

Since Episode 244 (2013), the preamble has been:

Ihr Revier ist die Autobahn. (Their precinct is the autobahn)
Ihre Gegner: extrem schnell und gefährlich. (Their enemies: Extremely quick and dangerous)
Verbrechen ohne Limit. (Crimes without limit)
Jeder Einsatz - volles Risiko (Every job: at full risk)
für die Männer von Cobra 11. (for the men of Cobra 11)

Since 2014, the preamble has been:

Ihr Revier ist die Autobahn. (Their precinct is the autobahn)
Ihre Gegner: extrem schnell und gefährlich. (Their enemies: Extremely quick and dangerous)
Volles Risiko (Extremely risky)
für die Männer von Cobra 11. (for the men of Cobra 11)

Stunts[edit]

The series is known for its extremely well performed stuntwork, which features the destruction of various vehicles in every episode. Almost every episode has a distinct structure, with at least one daring action sequence and the pre-title sequence usually consisting of the main event (i.e. a devastating crash on the Autobahn). The stuntwork is often so spectacular that it would not look out of place in a full-fledged movie, with cars commonly reaching implausible heights as they vault through the air.

Production locations[edit]

From 1996 to 1998, the series was produced jointly by Polyphon Film- und Fernsehgesellschaft mbH (responsible for all other production aspects such as filming/postproduction/location scouting etc.) and ActionConcept (stunts). Those episodes were shot in Berlin, notably in the site of the former Checkpoint Bravo and in the surrounding state of Brandenburg.^[1]^[2] In 1998, Action Concept took over as the sole production company and shifted all filming/production work to its headquarters in Hürth just south of Cologne. Since then, episodes have been shot in and around Cologne and Düsseldorf as well as on several major Autobahnen (A540/A44 and now mainly on the Filmautobahn Aldenhoven near Düren – ^[3]) between Cologne and Düsseldorf in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW).

Game adaptations[edit]

The series has also spawned numerous game releases in Germany, primarily for PC, but they have generally met with mixed receptions. The latest title is Alarm für Cobra 11: The Syndicate, released on 23 December 2010. Crash Time was also dubbed into English and sold in many other markets worldwide.

Parodies[edit]

Alarm für Cobra 11 – Die Autobahnpolizei was regularly parodied as "Alarm für Kebap 11 – Die Dönerpölizei" by Freitag Nacht News, a German comedy sketch program. The segments feature the team talking in exaggerated Turkish accents and many references to Döner Kebab. Erdoğan Atalay and René Steinke themselves have made cameo appearances in some.

The series has also been parodied on Switch TV and Switch reloaded.

Alarm für Cobra 11 – Die Autobahnpolizei was also parodied in the Latvian comedy show Savādi gan.

Spin-Off[edit]

In 2002, a spin-off named Alarm für Cobra 11 – Einsatz für Team 2 (Alarm for Cobra 11 – Mission for Team 2) was started. Because of its limited success, only two seasons were produced.