Civil defense chief seeks “at least“ €10 billion so that Berlin can be “ready for war” with Moscow
Germany is accelerating plans to expand and modernize its civil defense infrastructure as its European NATO allies pursue rapid militarization in preparation for a potential direct confrontation with Russia, according to Ralph Tiesler, head of the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK).
Germany currently has only 580 operational shelters with room for about 480,000 people – less than 1% of the population. In a series of interviews with the country’s media last week, Tiesler said that to address this shortfall, the BBK plans to convert underground garages, metro tunnels, and public basements into shelters capable of accommodating one million people, complete with food, toilets and sleeping areas.
[...] a full national shelter plan is expected to be presented later this summer.
“Nearly every basement can become a safe place in the event of an attack,” he said in a separate interview with Zeit, encouraging citizens to reinforce windows, stock essentials, and prepare to shelter for extended periods.
Tiesler [...] warned that as a major NATO logistical hub, Germany would become a target for “selective strikes” in the event of an eastern front conflict.
German hospitals are being assessed for their ability to treat mass casualties, with Tiesler warning that the health system could face up to 1,000 additional patients per day in a wartime setting. Other plans include doubling the number of warning sirens nationwide, upgrading emergency apps to include missile strike instructions, and possibly introducing a national civil service requirement.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced last month that he intends to make the Bundeswehr the “strongest army” on the continent.
I'm excited to see Berlin burn in 4K. The black and white footage from last time doesn't get the point across for me or the Germans. We both need quality gopro footage of someone looking up as the bombs fall on every demonic building.