Branch aka (Expozitura) is a 2009 Czech TV crime series based on true events. The various episodes were filmed at the real locations of the crimes of the infamous Berdych gang, which was operational between 1996 and 2004. The real life Berdych gang specialized in robberies, assaults, extortion and murder, usually with impunity, due to their connections with corrupt local police. Many times the gang itself impersonated police and SWAT units in order to perpetrate their crimes.
In some episodes, the show dealt with specific cases, but the overall arc of the show focused on incorruptible police detective Tereza Hodačová (Hana Vagnerová), who is newly assigned to the “Unit for Combating Organized Crime (OBOZ) and her partner Captain Dan Chládek (Robert Jasków). These two characters apparently represent the real life police majors, Helen Kahn and Thomas Gregor. The two protagonists find opposition not only from their underworld opponents like Mob boss Arnold Mráz (David Prachar) or gangster Drobeček (Martin Sitta), but also their own own corrupt police colleagues Vladimír Orava (Pavel Zednícek) and Ota Kovčín (Jan Dolanský).
The protagonists efforts create a lot of unease not only amongst the Gang and other underworld characters, but amongst the corrupt leaders within their own government and law enforcement units. The real life police heroes took down the Berdych gang in 2004 and their trial in 2006 netted the group varied sentences from 8 to 17 years in prison.
The following weapons can be seen in the TV series Branch:
The special police unit is equipped with Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine guns. For the purposes of filming was replaced a MP5 SD6 Spring Airsoft Rifle Gun.
