Germany prepares a $11.6 billion civil defense package that would map public bunkers, shelters, and expand emergency response capabilities.
Germany is preparing a proposed 10-billion-euro ($11.6 billion) civil defense package that would map public bunkers and shelters nationwide while expanding emergency response capabilities, local media reported.
Backed by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, the plan would strengthen civil protection infrastructure and wartime preparedness, including by cataloging tunnels and underground parking facilities that could be used as shelters.
The information would be integrated into Germany’s NINA public warning app, allowing users to locate the nearest shelter and evacuation routes during an emergency.
Moreover, the proposal also includes a federal medical response force for mass casualty scenarios, to be deployed across 50 locations nationwide.
Other reported measures include the procurement of 1,000 specialized emergency vehicles and 110,000 field cots by 2029, alongside infrastructure upgrades for the Federal Agency for Technical Relief, Germany’s civil protection and disaster response agency.
A German-built World War II bunker in Denmark. Photo: Julian Pottage/AFPCivil Preparedness Measures
Preparedness efforts would also extend to training and public awareness.
Nationwide standards are planned for emergency responders handling chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear incidents, while civil defense education could be introduced in schools.
The package would additionally establish a new Civil Defense Command within the interior ministry to strengthen coordination between civilian emergency structures and the Bundeswehr in the event of a national defense emergency.
Berlin’s civil defense push comes as European governments strengthen security preparedness following Russia’s war in Ukraine and amid growing concern over hybrid threats.
Germany has already been expanding contingency planning for a potential large-scale conflict, with the country’s top military doctor saying last year that Berlin was preparing medical response plans capable of treating up to 1,000 wounded troops per day.
NATO officials have warned that Russia could be in a position to challenge the alliance later this decade, a claim Moscow denies.
