Trauriges Ende für Jessica Birkenheuer, bestätigte ihre Mutter in Tränen
Dark Secrets Behind the Wollny Family: Shocking Claims from Jessica Birkenheuer
For years, the Wollny family has fascinated German audiences on RTLZWEI with their reality show, showcasing the chaos and warmth of life in a large family.
But what viewers see on TV may only scratch the surface. In 2013, Dieter Wollny, Silvia’s ex-husband, and her eldest daughter Jessica Birkenheuer teamed up with author Katja Schneidt to publish a tell-all book: “Die Wollnys – Realitäten hinter der Kamera: Die ungeschminkte Wahrheit über Deutschlands bekannteste TV-Familie”.
What they revealed shocked many fans. In the book’s very first chapter, titled “Why I Ended Up in a Psychiatric Clinic as a Completely Healthy Child”, Jessica, who was three when Silvia entered a relationship with Dieter, shares a disturbing story.
According to Jessica, Dieter once took the blame for a serious crime committed by Silvia to keep her out of prison. As a result, he was sentenced to nine months in jail.
Silvia promised to find a way to free him — and what she allegedly did next is deeply unsettling.
Jessica claims that at the age of nine, she was forcibly admitted to a psychiatric hospital. Silvia reportedly told doctors that Jessica had threatened her with a knife at home — a claim Jessica denies.
In truth, she says she was a well-behaved child who helped care for her younger siblings, sacrificing much of her own childhood.
The supposed reason for this shocking move? Jessica and Dieter allege it was a strategic plan.
By placing Jessica in a psychiatric ward, Silvia could petition for a pardon for Dieter, painting the family as overwhelmed and in crisis.
According to the book, the plan worked: Dieter was released early, and Silvia immediately withdrew Jessica from the clinic, ending any treatment.
But the damage was done. Jessica describes how the four months in the institution left lasting trauma. Afterward, she struggled in school and was unfairly labeled as mentally unstable and aggressive. To this day, Jessica reportedly has no contact with her mother.
Despite the grave accusations, Silvia Wollny has never publicly addressed or acknowledged these claims. She continues to deny any wrongdoing.
This disturbing account raises fresh questions about the family’s history — and what might have happened to other members, like Calantha Wollny, whose own story has stirred concern among fans.
A chilling chapter in Germany’s most famous reality TV family — and a reminder that not everything on screen reflects the full truth behind closed doors.
