Germany preparations and training for war
Germany is preparing for the possibility of war and is seeking to protect the population from the effects of attacks by enhancing civil defense. In an area near Ahrweiler in the state of Rheinland-Pfalz, the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe – BBK) is conducting intensive drills simulating chemical weapon attacks and explosions.
In one scenario, volunteers wearing protective suits and breathing masks are rescuing a "victim" of an explosion. Modern devices detect the presence of hazardous chemicals like VX, a deadly nerve gas. Although the training is conducted using dummies and fake blood, the atmosphere is frighteningly realistic.
The tasks of BBK have shifted from preparing for natural disasters to facing war scenarios. Hospitals and health centers are being equipped with tools to handle large numbers of casualties. The authority is also considering providing protective vests and helmets to protect rescue teams, and has requested the purchase of 400 specialized vehicles capable of detecting nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons, similar to the German army's "Fuchs" vehicle.
Each of these vehicles is equipped with sensors, breathing masks, and oxygen cylinders, and are distributed to fire units across the country. The goal is to have at least one detection vehicle available in each region. BBK President Ralph Teisler stated that Germany, being a pivotal center for NATO, must prepare for attacks on its critical infrastructure. He explained that society needs to be prepared across all sectors, including civilians, because "defense is a collective task."
The civil defense relies on organizations such as the Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (German Red Cross), Arbeiter Samariter Bund (Workers' Samaritan Federation), Malteser, Johanniter, Deutsche Lebens-Rettungs-Gesellschaft, along with fire brigades and the Technical Relief Organization (Technisches Hilfswerk – THW). Currently, about 1.7 million people are involved in this field, most of whom are volunteers.
Despite this number, some experts doubt the effectiveness of the current system. Albrecht Brumme, the former president of the THW, believes that Germany lacks "real flexibility" and that many volunteers are registered with more than one organization, making the numbers misleading. He also pointed out that emergency units are not equipped to operate independently in case of power or water outages.
Civilian plans in wartime remain unclear. While the armed forces have developed a secret plan known as "Operationsplan Deutschland", there is no similar civilian plan in place yet. Mayors like Patrick Sundgen, the mayor of Bodnegg, criticize this absence and demand training for the population and informing them about what to do in emergencies. Germany also lacks ready shelters or effective warning systems. Although warning applications like "Nina" and "Cell Broadcast" exist, they do not provide sufficient warning against air raids. In contrast, the government has begun to develop plans to establish temporary camps to accommodate up to 50,000 people. This initiative is known as the "Mobile Reserve for Federal Care".
In warehouses near Cologne, the ASB union stores equipment including 5,000 field beds, 10,000 sets of covers, 600 folding tables, and 20 generators. However, there is still a shortage of many components. Aid organizations hope to obtain funding from the new allocations of 500 billion euros, which the government intends to invest in infrastructure. A large part of it is supposed to be allocated for civil defense.
Experts like Brumme suggest sending informational leaflets to every household, similar to what Sweden did, explaining how to act in the event of war. Ralph Teisler believes that building a resilient society is the way to make enemies take the country seriously. Currently, Germany is taking its first steps towards preparing for a conflict that no one wishes to occur.