Leaked German Plans Show How World War 3 With Russia Would Begin: Report
A Russian spokeswoman mocked the war plans as 'a mighty horoscope'
Christopher Gavin
JWPlayer
Aclassified document reported in German media appears to show how Germany is preparing for a possible World War III scenario between NATO and Russia.
The Bundeswehr, Germany's armed forces, are preparing for a Russian attack on NATO's eastern flank, with escalation towards all-out war beginning as soon as next month when Russia mobilizes some additional 200,000 troops, according to the files reportedly reviewed by BILD, the German tabloid newspaper.
The document, titled "Alliance Defense 2025," appears to be geared towards a training scenario against the possible Russian offensive, which could include cyber attacks, the newspaper reported on Sunday.
According to Newsweek, the document has not been independently verified. BILD's report cites information obtained from the German Ministry of Defense.
Maria Zakharova, a Russian foreign affairs spokeswoman, dismissed and outright mocked the predictions in a post on Telegram on Monday, equating them to a "mighty horoscope."
"I read the German 'secret plan' leaked into the BILD information gutter," she wrote. "It's like a mighty horoscope from last year for Pisces in Cancer.
"I suppose that the analysis was undertaken by the German Foreign Ministry headed by [Annalena] Baerbock."
The nightmare is here: How bad could the Russia-Ukraine war get?
New recruits of the Bundeswehr, the German armed forces, attend a ceremony in which they take their oath of service, on July 20, 2023 in Berlin, Germany.
New recruits of the Bundeswehr, the German armed forces, attend a ceremony in which they take their oath of service, on July 20, 2023 in Berlin.Adam Berry/Getty Images
The BILD report says the documents indicate Russian President Vladimir Putin would launch a "spring offensive" against Ukraine as Western funding for Ukrainian forces dwindles, according to Fox News.
By July, Russia would begin launching "severe cyberattacks" in the Baltics, and with escalating conflict, Putin could launch into the next phase in September, centering on a large-scale military exercise in western Russia and Belarus, the news network reported.
Russian troops would then be mobilized along with mid-range missiles to Kaliningrad, located between Poland and Lithuania, two NATO countries.
According to Fox, the report says Russia could also prey on the U.S. presidential election later this year as a means to spread propaganda.
By January 2025, Russia would be able to accuse Western allies of planning against Putin following the UN Security Council meeting, BILD's report says. Putin could then use those allegations to rally troops in Belarus and the Baltics by March next year.
The files state Germany would deploy 30,000 troops for its defense under the scenario, which would see about 70,000 Russian troops in Belarus, the BILD report stated.
NATO, meanwhile, would take "measures for credible deterrence" by May 2025, according to BILD, which reported that the situation depicted in the files were put together by German army generals and European allies.
According to Fox, Russia has held that it would not escalate its ongoing war in Ukraine beyond the nation's borders.
The Messenger