Episode 3: Emergency Powers

Inside a German Wargame What happens when a looming escalation suddenly becomes reality? In our wargame, Russian troops have entered southern Lithuania, blocking the only land corridor connecting the Baltic states to the rest of NATO territory. Berlin responds, seeking to keep the state functioning. But its measures are aimed primarily at maintaining stability at home rather than confronting Moscow. In Episode 3 of "Ernstfall – What If Russia Attacks NATO?" the fictional federal cabinet turns its attention to Washington. Will NATO's most important ally stand with Europe—the only power capable of providing credible security guarantees in such a crisis? At the same time, the Red Team deliberately probes Germany's vulnerabilities: domestic political tensions, economic dependencies, and the country's pivotal role as NATO's logistical hub. The simulation reaches a stage where every decision creates new risks. 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