Desperate to avoid Germany's rage (3)
I believe the answer is:
ire
'rage' is the definition.
(ire is anger)
'desperate to avoid germany's' is the wordplay.
'desperate' becomes 'dire' (I've seen this in another clue).
'to avoid' is a deletion indicator.
'germany' becomes 'd' (vehicle registration code for Deutschland).
'dire' with 'd' removed is 'IRE'.
(Other definitions for ire that I've seen before include "Anger among admirers" , "exasperation" , "Intense anger" , "'Anger, wrath (3)'" , "Choler" .)