Germany is ramping up its civil defense infrastructure, mirroring a broader trend of militarization in Western Europe, to prepare for a potential confrontation with Russia, according to Ralph Tiesler, head of the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK). This move comes as Germany’s current capacity of 580 operational shelters can only accommodate less than 1% of the population, roughly 480,000 people.
To address this, the BBK plans to convert existing underground spaces like garages, metro tunnels, and public basements into shelters capable of housing one million people, equipped with essential supplies such as food, toilets, and sleeping areas.
Tiesler told the Suddeutsche Zeitung that “New bunkers with the highest protection standards cost a lot of money and take time. We need faster solutions,” while mentioning that a comprehensive national shelter plan is expected later this summer.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz previously announced intentions to build the “strongest army” in Europe. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is seeking a significant boost to the military budget, potentially reaching €90 billion ($102 billion) by 2028.
Tiesler stressed the importance of civil protection, advocating for a €30 billion investment over the next decade, with at least €10 billion earmarked by 2029, a year repeatedly cited by German officials as a deadline for Berlin to be “ready for war.”
Moscow has consistently denied any plans to attack NATO or EU countries, dismissing such claims as “utter nonsense” and accusing the West of using fear to justify inflated defense budgets. Russian officials have also voiced concerns over Western Europe’s increasing militarization, suggesting that instead of supporting US-led peace efforts in the Ukraine conflict, the EU and UK are preparing for war with Russia.