A relatively obscure hill in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the Helpter Berg, is experiencing a surge in attention from German comedians. Following a widely shared online sketch by Wigald Boning and Bernhard Hoëcker late last year, fellow entertainer Roger G., also known as Gregor Kurtz, has now featured the 179-meter peak in his own comedic routine.
In a sketch titled “Atemlos durch MV” (Breathless Through MV), Kurtz posed the question to his audience: “What is the highest mountain in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, does anyone know?” He then answered himself, “It’s the Helpter Berg, exactly. 179 meters straight up, friends, really. Yes, you’re laughing. Good Mecklenburgers have been lost there – oxygen deprivation.” The clip, which runs less than 20 seconds, has garnered over 19,500 likes on Instagram as of Monday, according to reports.
Kurtz, speaking from his vacation in Mexico, explained his inspiration. “I’ve often been in the area camping and always found it funny that the thing is called a mountain, with that height. Besides, I always like to make something comedic out of my homeland, I can do that very well,” he said.
The Helpter Berg, located between Woldegk and Pasewalk, is not a typical tourist destination. It lacks proper signage, an observation platform and clear views due to overgrown vegetation. Despite this, it features a summit cross and both a privately maintained online guestbook and traditional, regularly updated analog guestbooks kept at the Woldegk city archive.
Kurtz indicated he has no immediate plans to satirize other regional superlatives, such as the Müritz, Germany’s largest inland lake. “I don’t have any further superlatives planned at the moment. It happens spontaneously,” he stated. He also confirmed he does not currently have any performances scheduled in cities within the Mecklenburg Lake District or Vorpommern, despite having performed in Neubrandenburg last year.
His current tour, “So Freunde!” (So Friends!), will next be in Berlin on April 25th. Prior to that, he is scheduled to perform in Lüneburg on February 27th, Lübeck on April 21st, and Hamburg on April 23rd. With over 516,000 followers on Instagram, Kurtz is one of the more recognizable figures originating from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. He gained prominence in early 2024 with a video about children’s mustard.
Boning and Hoëcker previously visited the Helpter Berg as part of their “Wandern und Baden mit Boning” (Hiking and Swimming with Boning) internet series, which involves climbing the highest peaks of Germany’s 16 states and taking a dip in a local body of water afterward. Boning described the view from the summit as sweeping “from Rügen to Munich,” a clear exaggeration given the limited visibility from the densely wooded hill.
