Germany, emergency plan against war: shelters for one million people

The head of Civil Protection raises the alarm: “We must prepare for a possible Russian attack within four years.” Berlin focuses on bunkers, stations, and underground garages

Germany is stepping up civil protection in anticipation of a potential war scenario. The country is drawing up plans to rapidly expand its network of bomb-proof bunkers and shelters. This was announced by Ralph Tiesler, director of the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (Bbk), who warned that Germany must prepare for a possible Russian military attack within the next four years.

“For too long, we believed that war was not a realistic scenario for Germany. But the situation has changed. We are concerned about the risk of a major war of aggression in Europe,” Tiesler told the Süddeutsche Zeitung, stressing that the country’s current level of preparedness is insufficient.

The federal government intends to quickly convert existing structures such as tunnels, subway stations, underground garages, parking lots, and basements of public buildings into protective shelters. The goal is to create safe space for at least one million people in the shortest possible time.

The initiative is part of a broader plan to strengthen national resilience, in a context where the conflict in Ukraine and tensions with Russia are prompting several European countries to review their civil defense strategies.

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