Espionage in a Taxi: The moving life of Helmut on stage!

Espionage in a Taxi: The moving life of Helmut on stage!

Today, on November 9th, 2025, the Ulm Theater Island will be the setting for an impressive play: “Taxi over there”. This piece, based on the turbulent times of German-German history, takes a unique look at the dark chapters of our past. The protagonist, a taxi driver named Helmut, is actually Herrmann Reisch, a 74-year-old man who lives in the Alb-Donau district. His story is that of a double agent who worked for both the GDR and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution to collect secret information.

Reisch's exciting career began in 1979 when he was contacted by a man named “Ingo” who asked him for a map of Ulm. As a result, the West German Office for the Protection of the Constitution encouraged him to accept the offer. Reisch noted license plates of American transporters that were connected to the Pershing I missiles stationed in the former Wiley barracks in Neu-Ulm. He passed this information on to both the GDR and the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, making a good deal for each side. While the GDR paid in D-Marks, he received additional amounts from the Federal Republic of Germany.

A spy in custody

However, the years of espionage came to a shocking end: in 1983, Reisch was exposed as a spy and subsequently brought to justice. The sentence was twelve years in prison in the notorious Bautzen prison. He describes this time as traumatizing, with strict controls and poor prison conditions. In 1987 he was released as part of a prisoner exchange. After returning to freedom, he began to tell his experiences in schools and at events - a kind of therapy for him to deal with his past and educate others.

What is particularly noteworthy is that the 13 performances of the play at the Ulm Theater were already sold out in advance. This level of interest shows that viewers have a need to learn more about this special time period and the stories associated with it.

Quiz and wanderlust

It's in a different league, but it adds to the overall entertainment. Over 80% of users who start the weekly quiz complete all seven questions - a real hit among fans. Bing has recognized that an exciting mix of serious and light topics is well received by users and plans to continually improve its quiz design.

In this way it becomes clear, whether in the past or in the present: stories and games connect people, stimulate reflection and promote engagement with our history. This applies both to the Cold War era and to the modern content that the Internet provides.

For more information about the drama “Taxi nach drüben” please visit SWR or explore the innovative social features of Bing. If you are interested in language training, you can find helpful materials on LEO.