Germany drafts wartime plan in anticipation of Russian threat
Germany is preparing for a potential conflict. The "Bild" newspaper has obtained a document outlining the country's operational foundations in the event of a war outbreak.
7 June 2024 07:17
- We must be ready for war by 2029; we must not believe that Putin will stop at Ukraine’s borders when he gets that far. We must provide deterrence to prevent it from coming to the worst, - said Defence Minister Boris Pistorius during a Bundestag meeting.
The "Bild" newspaper reports that Berlin has updated its plans in the event of a war with Russia. The 67-page document outlines how a war outbreak would affect the civilian population, particularly those in professions that may support the military.
One of the first decisions would be to move troops eastward to defend NATO's eastern flank. It may also be necessary to accommodate and feed thousands of NATO soldiers on German soil as they move toward the front lines.
During this time, the civilian population would be informed of the situation using all available means.
According to the document, conscription would return in Germany, and the authorities would have the power to compel skilled citizens over 18 to work in specific fields.
Population safety
To ensure food security, necessary reserves would be activated "to provide at least one hot meal per day," - it reads. This decision would be particularly applicable to metropolitan areas.
To ensure the population's safety, basements, underground parking lots, and metro stations will be used as civilian shelters. Authorities also reserve the right to evacuate certain areas of the country while prohibiting the separation of families. In addition, hospitals must be prepared to receive a large number of patients for extended periods.
The economy would also need to be switched to wartime mode, and designated enterprises would only produce for military purposes.
However, some aspects of everyday life would remain unchanged. One is rubbish collection, which would continue to prevent epidemics. Bundestag sessions would also continue.