A new survey suggested most Germans remain unconvinced about the country’s military preparedness and ability to respond to a direct attack.
A new survey suggested most Germans remain unconvinced about the country’s military preparedness, with widespread skepticism over the Bundeswehr’s ability to respond to a direct attack.
According to Deutsche Welle, citing polling by German research institute Insa for Bild am Sonntag, the survey was conducted earlier this month among 1,005 respondents.
The survey found that only 17 percent of respondents believe Germany’s armed forces could adequately defend the country, while 72 percent said they do not think the military is currently capable of doing so.
Thirty-eight percent said they are worried about the possibility of a Russian attack, while 50 percent said they are not concerned.
Around two-thirds of respondents said they are concerned about cyberattacks, sabotage, or disinformation campaigns disrupting daily life in Germany, compared with just over one in five who said they were not worried.
Boosting Defense
The survey comes as Berlin steps up defense and civil preparedness amid continued security concerns linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine and fears of potential military threats in Europe.
Germany is reportedly preparing a 10-billion-euro ($11.6 billion) civil defense package that would expand shelter infrastructure, strengthen emergency response, and improve wartime readiness.
The country is also significantly increasing defense spending, with reported plans for 377 billion euros ($438 billion) in future military acquisitions spanning hundreds of procurement programs, from near-term purchases to longer-term modernization efforts.
The push aligns with the EU’s ReArm Europe/Readiness 2030 initiative, which aims to mobilize more than 800 billion euros ($919 billion) in defense spending across the bloc.
