Die Schweizergarde – Das geheime Leben im Vatikan Teil 1

The soldiers of the Swiss Guard, instantly recognizable in their unique uniforms, swear a personal oath to protect the Pope. The Swiss Guard was officially founded in 1506. Today, as then, the Pope relies on this small army of dedicated men to protect him from the constant threats of an unstable world. The film traces the origins of this special military corps 500 years ago and, for the first time, presents documents from the Swiss Guard's private archives, recounting a secret mission at the height of World War II: A Swiss Guard officer drove a truckload of weapons from Switzerland to the Vatican, risking death from German troops and Allied bombs. All this to save Pope Pius XII from being kidnapped by Adolf Hitler. The film also explores why young men still choose to join the Swiss Guard today and offers exclusive insights into the lives of the soldiers in their barracks in the Vatican. It shows their daily duties, both within the papal palace and protecting the Pope on his travels abroad. The documentary was filmed in Italy, the Vatican, and Switzerland and includes interviews with renowned historians, security experts, journalists, Swiss Guard veterans, the guards themselves, and their families.