Germany must urgently bolster its civil defense systems in anticipation of a potential war with Russia within the next four years, warned Ralph Tiesler, the head of Germany's Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK).

In an interview for the German Süddeutsche Zeitung news outlet on Saturday, Tiesler said the country had long operated under the assumption that it did not need to prepare for war. "For a long time, there was a widespread belief in Germany that war was not a scenario for which we needed to prepare. That has changed. We are concerned about the risk of a major war of aggression in Europe," he told the newspaper.

Citing the current geopolitical climate, including the war in Ukraine and heightened anxiety in Baltic states and Poland, Tiesler urged swift action to convert existing underground spaces, such as metro stations, tunnels, garages, and public building basements, into emergency shelters capable of protecting up to one million people. A detailed proposal from the BBK is expected later this summer.

Shelter shortfall

The current state of Germany's civil protection infrastructure is alarming. Of the roughly 2,000 bunkers and protection rooms built during the Cold War, only about 580 remain functional, The Guardian reported.

These could shelter just 480,000 people, barely half a percent of the German population. In contrast, Finland has 50,000 protection rooms, accommodating 85% of its citizens.

Constructing new bunkers is not seen as a viable short-term solution due to the high cost and long timelines. "Such shelters would take a long time to plan and construct and be very costly," Tiesler explained. "As a result, existing structures needed to be closely considered more immediately."

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The civil protection chief also called for improvements to emergency communication systems, including warning sirens, signage, and mobile apps, while warning that these systems must be secured against cyberattacks.

"Our appeal is: build up enough supplies to last you 10 days, if possible," he said, before adding, "But even a supply for at least 72 hours would be very helpful. This can be used to bridge minor interruptions in everyday life."

Defense funding

Tiesler's agency has urged the federal government to allocate appropriate funding. Although the need for a civil defense overhaul is acknowledged, financial backing has not yet been confirmed.

However, with Germany's constitutional debt brake suspended in March, billions of euros are now available for defense, infrastructure, and cybersecurity upgrades.

Tiesler estimated that civil protection improvements would require at least €10 billion over four years and €30 billion over the next decade. He also proposed the introduction of a national civil protection service, either mandatory or voluntary, to boost community preparedness.

Read more: EU urges households to prepare 3-day survival kits amid rising crisis

Warfare expansion

The news comes amid heightened tensions between Germany and Russia. In June 2024, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed that Germany was preparing for war due to its diminished sovereignty since World War II.

Last month, Reuters reported that Germany's Chief of Defense, Carsten Breuer, has ordered the German military to be fully equipped with weapons and other material by 2029.

The latest document, titled "Directive Priorities for the Bolstering of Readiness" and signed by Breuer on May 19, outlines the most urgent priorities for weapons acquisition and development.

These priorities partly align with NATO's existing goals and focus on reinforcing Germany's weakened air defenses, particularly by improving its capacity to intercept drones.

Read more: German defense chief commands fast expansion of warfare capabilities