Born in 1972 in Saarbrucken, Rudiger Barth studied Contemporary History and General Rhetoric in Tubingen. After 15 years as a journalist for the German weekly Stern, he now works as a freelance author. Born in 1980 in Hamburg, Hauke Friedrichs studied Social and Economic History and wrote his PhD thesis on piracy in the Mediterranean. He has worked for publications including Die Zeit, Stern, Geo, Epoche and P.M. History.