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Shortly after a Russian investor takes control of the Wadan shipyard, the largest company in the small town of Wismar, Germany, the American economic crisis sends shockwaves through European industry. With the cancelation of orders and an uncertain economic climate, 5,000 jobs are suddenly in peril. A chasm opens up between workers and executives, as insolvency proceedings foment distrust and anger. Over the next 18 months, Dieter Schumann gains unfettered access to executives, investors, labour leaders and foremen, right down to the lowest paid workers, as everyone struggles to keep their footing in a shaky future. Remaining workers take dramatic pay cuts while those laid off soon discover a job is more than just a paycheque—it’s inextricably linked to self-worth. Wadan’s World is not only a tragic story of the global economic crisis, it’s a story of how work is a pivotal part of human identity. - Eli Horwatt