The present takes place before the present of the previous mini-series Death of a Pilgrim (2013), making this a prequel. It's however the other way round with the past (the 1980s), making it a sequel too.
Based on part 2 of Leif G.W. Persson's novel trilogy "Välfärdsstatens fall" (The Fall of the Welfare State). The previous mini-series Death of a Pilgrim (2013) is based on part 1 and 3.
The Baader Meinhof Complex (2008) is a fictionalization of the real life events that were also the basis for Germany in Autumn (1978), Baader (2002), Black Box BRD (2001), Stammheim - The Baader-Meinhof Gang on Trial (1986), A German Youth (2015), Starbuck Holger Meins (2002), Baader-Meinhof: In Love with Terror (2002), Prisoner of Terrorism (1978), Ulrike Meinhof (2007), Andreas Baader - Der Staatsfeind (2002) and were strongly related with Ulrike Marie Meinhof (1995), Wildentiere (1969), Gudrun Ensslin - the early years (1968), Children of the Revolution (2010), Sekigun-P.F.L.P: Sekai sensô sengen (1971) and present in the storylines of Long Shadows (2008), The Worst Thing (2019) and Joschka und Herr Fischer (2011).