22.07.2026 • 44 Min.

The wargame is heading toward a decisive moment. In our fictional scenario, Russian troops are digging in. And Europe is struggling to find a response that neither triggers panic at home nor signals weakness abroad. The overarching question is: Who is really in control of the escalation? Episode 5 focuses on the battle for the narrative and the political costs of military decisions. A large-scale communications campaign aims to make it clear who is really attacking here and who is defending itself. But that doesn’t change the situation on the ground. Because NATO’s most forceful option remains blocked in our simulation. While alternatives are being debated between Berlin and Brussels, a proposal is on the table that tests Moscow’s claims. 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