Subscribe to download
The Baltic Crisis 1989

This mission is set in an alternate history, where East Germany slowly turned its back on the soviets and strarted to cooperate with NATO. That of course was really disliked by the soviets, which caused an all time high in the tensions between east and west.

The Baltic Crisis 1989 - Political Situation

1. The New Economic Horizon Act of 1975
In a surprising move, the leadership of East Germany (GDR) under Erich Honecker announced the New Economic Horizon Act, a series of reforms inspired by Hungarian-style "Goulash Communism" and elements of the West German Soziale Marktwirtschaft (social market economy). This included introducing Kombinate der Kooperation—state-owned enterprises granted autonomy to partner with Western corporations. NATO countries, sensing an opportunity to weaken the Soviet sphere, encouraged investments under strict oversight. By 1978, East Germany's GDP had grown by 12%, driven by a tech boom in microelectronics and machinery exports to the West.
________________________________________
2. The Berlin Forum Agreement (1981)
Amid the GDR's economic boom, political reformists led by economist Christa Wolf and moderate Stasi officials pushed for détente with NATO. The 1981 Berlin Forum Agreement between East Germany and NATO countries allowed for joint scientific projects and cultural exchanges, bypassing Soviet objections. These exchanges fostered a Western-leaning intelligentsia within the GDR. East Germany even began importing limited quantities of NATO-manufactured consumer goods, creating cracks in Soviet trade hegemony.
The Soviet Union’s Brezhnev Doctrine was invoked, but no military action followed due to rising unrest in Poland and Afghanistan sapping Soviet attention.
________________________________________
3. The Leipzig Charter on Democratic Governance (1985)
Sparked by economic success and Western influence, dissident movements gained traction by the mid-1980s. The Leipzig Charter, a grassroots manifesto, was signed by key reformists and prominent intellectuals in 1985. It called for incremental democratic reforms, including multi-candidate elections within the Socialist Unity Party (SED) and the establishment of an independent judiciary. While the GDR regime reluctantly agreed to these demands to maintain domestic stability, Moscow furiously denounced the reforms as “bourgeois corruption.”
The Leipzig Charter was also backed by NATO, which discreetly provided organizational support to reformist leaders through covert operations.
________________________________________
4. The Energy Trade Pact of 1986
In a landmark move, East Germany signed a lucrative energy trade deal with NATO nations in 1986, allowing it to supply refined oil and natural gas from Soviet pipelines to Western Europe. This agreement—brokered without Soviet approval—gave the GDR a vital source of foreign currency while deepening its ties with Western economies. The Soviet Union retaliated by slashing subsidies to East Germany, but the GDR had grown resilient due to its diversified economic partnerships. This event marked a significant shift toward economic independence from Moscow.
________________________________________


5. The Unity and Freedom Elections of 1988
Riding on growing democratic momentum, East Germany held its first semi-free elections in June 1988. Reformist candidates won nearly 40% of seats in the People’s Chamber, forcing the ruling SED to form a coalition government with moderate reformists. The coalition’s first act was to formally denounce the Warsaw Pact’s rigid alignment policies, opting for a policy of “neutral cooperation” with NATO. Erich Honecker and his staff were relieved of office to make way for more modereate leaders and consequently flead to exile in other socialist states. By early 1989, East Germany hosted joint NATO training exercises in non-combat roles, prompting an official Soviet embargo and a full diplomatic break with Moscow.
East Germany’s reforms and growing affluence served as a model for other Eastern Bloc countries, accelerating the Soviet Union's internal crisis. The Soviet leadership answers with brute force. Calls for reforms in other sattelite states are brutally crushed. Tensions between east and west are on an all-time high. The Iron Curtain is thicker than ever.
________________________________________
6. The Baltic Crisis
Early in the morning of the sixth of June 1989 Soviet Leadership send a message tot he newly established „German Military Integration Council“ (RfmI – Rat für militärische Integration). Soviet officials threaten to attack a drilling rig in east german waters close to the border to Poland. The drilling rig is currently beeing evacuated by the american fleet-tender „Flint“. NATO-Intelligence is reporting a Soviet Taskforce heading towards the drilling rig in the southern baltic.

Briefing:
Listen up Admiral! The Situation is serious, many lifes are at stake. You will lead the Zerstörergeschwader „Einheit“ (Destroyer Group „Unity“) and the 3. Fregattengeschwader (3. Frigate Group) to protect the drilling rig east of Rügen. You will also gain command power over the fleet-tender flint, which is currently evacuating the drilling rig. Bring it home.
We are expecting a soviet surface fleet approx 100nm east of the drilling rig. Intel sugest that soviets do not want to destroy the drilling rig, but capture ist. So there will be some kind of transport ship or landing craft in the fleet. We expect it to be the Ivan Rogov. Make sure it does not reach the rig.
Swedish officials informed us that soviet ships were spotted close to Swedens southern coast. We do not now much more about that, so be careful out there.
There is also a spy-ship in the area. It´s probably some kind of fishing boat with a soviet flag. You might need to get really close with your helicopters to identify it correctly. DO NOT shoot at civilian shipping, so make sure you found the correct target!
The drilling rig also reported weird noises below the surface. It might be a sub. If you find it, sink it before it can do any harm. There are NO friendly subs in the area.
Tasks to complete the Mission:
• Identify and sink the Ivan Rogov
• Identify and sink the enemy spy ship
• Identify and sink the enemy sub
Rules of engagement:
• The Soviets are threatening civilien lives over the newly gained freedom of a nation. They started this, they will not hesitate , so won`t we. Yet watch your shots. Civilian traffic is high in the area. Weopons Tight!