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German Robot Wars (known as Robot Wars: The German Struggles in Germany) was the German version of the British television game show Robot Wars. The show ran for just one series, which was originally broadcast on Saturday evenings from October 5th to November 2nd 2002 on RTL II. Despite being made for a German audience, recorded in the German language and featuring mainly German competitors, the series was actually filmed in the main Robot Wars TV studio in London, with the battles taking place in the main Robot Wars Arena.

Of the robots available, only nine were actually German. Three international robots, two from the Netherlands and one from Switzerland, were allowed to participate in order to make up the numbers. Despite this, the main championship still only featured 12 robots.

Throughout the German Robot Wars, viewers were able to predict the winners of battles. A piece of text would often appear on-screen, reading Jetzt Tippen & Gewinnen! Videotext seite 292, translating to Now tap & Win! Teletext page 292.

Presenters

Christian Möllmann, who had previously presented the German-dubbed episodes of UK Robot Wars, was originally slated to host the German version, but just two days before filming, sports presenter Jürgen Törkott was chosen instead. Törkott also fulfilled the role of pit reporter. The commentary was provided by Volker Wolf.

During the UK vs Germany Special, Craig Charles appeared as an additional presenter after the battles involving the UK robots, and Philippa Forrester's pre-battle interviews with the UK teams were also used, both with translations provided by Volker Wolf.

Format

The format of the German Wars was very different from the British or Dutch versions. It featured only two heats, each with six robots. Out of those heats, the two robots that would usually reach a heat final progressed to the Grand Final. Once in the Grand Final, the four robots paired off with each other, and the two winners would reach the Grand Final. After the Grand Final, there would be a "Losers Melee" between the four heat finalists to decide fifth through eighth place.

In addition, part of The Second World Championship was broadcast in each heat; Heat A featured the German Melee from Extreme Series 1, and Heat B showed the first Heat from The Second World Championship, in which Ansgar fought. Both of these battles were filmed and broadcast in the UK about a year earlier, and featured the original Ansgar, but it was Ansgar's Revenge that took part in the German Championship.

Following the Grand Final two special episodes were shown. The first of these was the UK vs Germany Special, the German version of which being billed Germany vs England, that was also shown at the end of the Sixth Wars in the UK. The second special and last episode of the series was the European Championship that would later be broadcast in the UK at the end of Extreme Series 2. Both these episodes were given a new commentary and all team interviews were either re-filmed in German with Jürgen Törkott or translated into German by Volker Wolf.

Heats

Heat A

Main article: German Robot Wars/Heat A

Robots competing in Heat A: Junkyard Queen, Golem, Ansgar's Revenge, Tyke, Thorgrim, Son of Armageddon

Eliminators

  • Tyke vs Thorgrim vs Son of Armageddon: Thorgrim eliminated
  • Junkyard Queen vs Golem vs Ansgar's Revenge: Ansgar's Revenge eliminated

Finals

  • Junkyard Queen vs Son of Armageddon: Son of Armageddon won
  • Golem vs Tyke: Tyke won

World Championship Qualifier

  • Ansgar vs Nasty Warrior vs Golem vs Flensburger Power: Ansgar won

Heat B

Main article: German Robot Wars/Heat B

Robots competing in Heat B: Tsunami, Black Hole, Absolut Krankhaft, Hydrotec, Not Perfect, Delldog

Eliminators

  • Tsunami vs Black Hole vs Absolut Krankhaft: Absolut Krankhaft eliminated
  • Hydrotec vs Not Perfect vs Delldog: Delldog eliminated

Finals

  • Black Hole vs Hydrotec: Black Hole won
  • Tsunami vs Not Perfect: Tsunami won

World Championship Heat

  • Ansgar vs Mastiff vs Chaos 2 vs Manta: Manta won

Grand Final

Main article: German Robot Wars/Grand Final

Eliminators

Losers Melee (Fifth Place)

Note: Golem and Hydrotec were both unable to participate in the Losers Melee due to damage sustained in previous battles.

Playoff (Third Place)

Final

Special Events

Germany vs England

Main article: UK vs Germany Special

Robots Competing:

Round 1

  • Delldog (GER) vs Dynamite (GER): Delldog won
  • 259 (UK) vs Judge Shred 2½ (UK): 259 won
  • Das Gepäck (GER) vs Ansgar's Revenge (GER): Das Gepäck won
  • Corkscrew (UK) vs Fluffy (UK): Fluffy won

Round 2

  • Delldog (GER) vs Das Gepäck (GER): Das Gepäck won
  • 259 (UK) vs Fluffy (UK): Fluffy won

Final

  • Fluffy (UK) vs Das Gepäck (GER): Draw

European Championship

Main article: European Championship

Robots Competing: Razer (UK), PulverizeR (NED), Black Hole (GER), Zeus (ITA), Snake Bite (SUI), Tornado (UK), Philipper 2 (BEL), Rawbot (SWE)

Round 1

  • Black Hole (GER) vs Zeus (ITA): Black Hole won
  • Philipper 2 (BEL) vs Rawbot (SWE): Philipper 2 won
  • Snake Byte (SUI) vs Tornado (UK): Tornado won
  • Razer (UK) vs PulverizeR (NED): Razer won

Round 2

  • Black Hole (GER) vs Philipper 2 (BEL): Philipper 2 won
  • Razer (UK) vs Tornado (UK): Razer won
Note: Razer later handed the victory to Tornado as they believed that they had been immobilised (Razer's motors had burnt out very early on in the fight) and did not deserve to continue.

Final

  • Tornado (UK) vs Philipper 2 (BEL): Tornado won
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