Germany plans great bunker enlargement
(MENAFN) Germany is stepping up efforts to expand and modernize its civil defense systems in response to increasing militarization among NATO allies and concerns over a potential conflict with Russia. Ralph Tiesler, head of the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK), revealed plans to significantly increase the country's shelter capacity, which currently includes only 580 operational bunkers accommodating fewer than 1% of the population.
To quickly address this shortfall, the BBK intends to repurpose underground parking lots, subway tunnels, and public basements into emergency shelters for up to one million people. These spaces would be equipped with essentials such as food supplies, sanitation facilities, and sleeping arrangements. Tiesler emphasized the need for quick, cost-effective solutions over the construction of new high-standard bunkers, with a full national shelter strategy expected by summer.
He advised citizens to prepare their basements for extended sheltering, reinforce windows, and stock up on necessities. While Tiesler downplayed the likelihood of a full-scale Russian ground invasion, he warned that Germany, as a NATO logistical hub, could be targeted with precision strikes in the event of a conflict.
Germany is also reviewing hospital preparedness for mass casualty events, projecting the potential for up to 1,000 additional patients daily in wartime. Other measures include doubling the number of air-raid sirens, enhancing emergency alert apps to include missile strike guidance, and possibly reinstating national civil service obligations.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged to build Europe’s strongest military, and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is pushing to increase the military budget to €90 billion by 2028. Tiesler has called for €30 billion for civil defense over the next decade, including €10 billion by 2029—a year repeatedly cited as the target for full wartime readiness.
Meanwhile, Russia has dismissed fears of an attack on NATO or EU countries as baseless and accused the West of exploiting fear to inflate defense budgets. Russian leaders have criticized Europe's military buildup and warned that Germany’s actions, including arms shipments to Ukraine, show direct involvement in the conflict. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed Berlin is repeating past mistakes that could lead to its own downfall.
A recent survey revealed that Russians now view Germany, more than the United States, as the most unfriendly foreign nation.
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