Germany is being prepared as NATO’s central logistical hub for the alliance’s eastern flank, senior military officials said during a Bundeswehr conference, Die Zeit reported on Friday. The discussions highlighted Germany’s growing concern over its preparedness to handle large-scale deployments amid rising regional tensions.

Germany as NATO’s key staging area

Lieutenant General Alexander Sollfrank, head of NATO’s Joint Sustainment and Deployment Command (JSEC) and the Bundeswehr's Operational Command, stated that up to 800,000 troops and their equipment from NATO countries could be deployed via Germany at short notice.

“In the event of a conflict, Germany will become NATO’s central bridgehead,” he said, emphasizing the country’s strategic importance in Europe.

Lieutenant General Andre Bodemann, Sollfrank's deputy, warned that delays or disorganization in troop movements could undermine NATO’s deterrence. “If the deployment stalls, if the forces arrive too late or in a disorganized manner, deterrence will fail,” he said, while noting potential sabotage risks targeting bridges, tunnels, ports, or airports.

German military readiness, concerns

Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, Carsten Breuer, stressed the need to rethink Germany’s approach to military preparedness.

“We need to think about war again. We haven’t done that for too long. We often left it to others,” he said.

Breuer pointed to a “twilight transition period in which it is not yet war, but also no longer complete peace.”

Breuer’s remarks reflected anxiety over Germany’s ability to mobilize and sustain large-scale operations.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for a “radical change in mentality” and suggested reintroducing conscription to address personnel shortages, further underscoring domestic concerns about Germany’s readiness.

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NATO assessment of Russia’s capabilities

Officials noted that Russia continues to modernize its armed forces. Sollfrank highlighted increases in missile and ammunition stockpiles, rising drone production, and projected troop growth to 1.5 million, while air forces remain largely operational.

While NATO does not currently anticipate a direct confrontation, German and alliance planners are preparing for possible future contingencies.

Additionally, on Thursday, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte reaffirmed the alliance’s deterrence posture following recent nuclear exercises. Speaking at a defense forum in Romania, he said NATO possesses a robust nuclear deterrent and assured that “there is no need to panic” despite ongoing tensions. Addressing Russian President Vladimir Putin, Rutte said that nuclear war “can never be won and must never be fought.”

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