Parallel to the series start of Deutschland 86, the documentary Comrades & Cash: Geheime Geschäfte unter dem Eisernen Vorhang (2018) highlights the historical background of the series.
Most of the episode titles refer to western policies and military operations in African countries during the Cold War, which were mostly fought as proxy wars.
Some of the actors were actually born and grew up in the German Democratic Republic and thus know the time from their own experience. Sylvester Groth, born in 1958, is from Brandenburg. Carina Wiese, Martins mother, was born in 1968 in Dresden, as well as Uwe Preuss, born in 1961.
Filming wrap up took place in January 2018.