Episode 2: Invasion

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. 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:
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