A look back at one of the many impressive panels of Unternehmertag 2025

A standout moment in the packed Ludwig Thoma Hall at the Althoff Seehotel Überfahrt at Tegernsee: the incisive interview with Lieutenant General Jürgen-Joachim von Sandrart, led by Paul Ronzheimer, Deputy Editor-in-Chief at BILD.
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Until late 2024, von Sandrart commanded NATO’s Multinational Corps Northeast, defending the alliance’s flank from Estonia to northern Poland. Since April 2025, he is retired – but his message was anything but quiet.
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• “In many other European capitals – and among their populations – the threat posed by Russia is far more clearly recognised than it is in German politics and among large parts of the German public. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland already have concrete defence plans ready to be enacted.”
• “Russia doesn’t need to win – it wins simply by not losing. And right now, regrettably, our greatest ally is helping it do just that.”
• “2029 marks the start of the next term. This is Europe’s last chance to become resilient and defensible. Otherwise, our European future in freedom is at stake.”
• “Do you know what you stand for? As business leaders, as journalists, as entrepreneurs – are you prepared to fight for something greater? Or are we merely here to optimise our personal gains, while someone fills our pockets and we relax at our finca in Mallorca? These are questions you must answer for yourselves – just as I must. Whether I’m stationed in Lithuania as a gunner or a general, it doesn’t matter. I will fight. And I hope you will too.”
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A wake-up call from a general who doesn’t mince his words!

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