Episode 2: Invasion

Inside a German Wargame In Episode 2, Germany’s crisis cabinet tries to move from reacting to taking the initiative. The Blue Team orders military exercises in Lithuania to demonstrate resolve. But the Bundeswehr is still in the process of building up its permanent brigade there. At the same time, the German government runs into another obstacle: Germany’s federal system requires constant coordination between Berlin and the sixteen federal states, slowing decision-making as the crisis accelerates. Within NATO, surveillance flights are stepped up to build a clearer picture of Russian troop movements. Then the situation changes once again. Russian forces cross into Lithuania, and what had begun as a hybrid crisis turns into a military invasion. Whether NATO can respond as one — and whether Germany can project strength abroad while maintaining stability at home — becomes the defining question. Script and Storytelling: Antonia Beckermann, Carolina Drüten Produced by: Marvin Schwarz If you enjoy the podcast, we’d be grateful if you could leave a rating or review. If you have questions or feedback, we’d love to hear from you at [wargame@welt.de](mailto:wargame@welt.de). The participants of the wargame: Blue Team (Germany) Chancellor: Peter Tauber Defense Minister: Roderich Kiesewetter Foreign Minister: Michael Roth Interior Minister: Irene Mihalic Finance Minister: Jörg Asmussen Government Spokesperson: Christiane Hoffmann Inspector General of the Bundeswehr: Eberhard Zorn President, Federal Office of Civil Protection: Christoph Unger Intelligence Chief: Gerhard Conrad Red Team (Russia) President: Alexander Gabuev Chief of the General Staff: Franz-Stefan Gady Foreign Minister: Arndt Freytag von Loringhoven International roles NATO Secretary General: Oana Lungescu U.S. Secretary of State: Jeff Rathke President of the European Commission: David McAllister Prime Minister of Poland: Bartłomiej Kot Note: With the exception of participants who spoke English in the original wargame, all English-language quotes are voiced by fellow journalists. The translations faithfully reflect the original statements. Imprint: https://www.welt.de/services/article7893735/Impressum.html Privacy Policy: https://www.welt.de/services/article157550705/Datenschutzerklaerung-WELT-DIGITAL.html