Reports reveal German MoD’s plans for potential war with Russia
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Germany's newest war guidelines include measures such as mandatory conscription and compelling manufacturers to produce war goods.
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German Bundeswehr soldiers stand next to a self-propelled howitzer PzH 2000 of the German Army during the Lithuanian-German division-level international military exercise 'Grand Quadriga 2024' at a training range in Pabrade, north of the capital Vilnius, Lithuania on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)
Recent reports by Der Spiegel and Bild revealed that the German Defense Ministry has laid out contingency plans for a possible military conflict with Russia.
According to the two media outlets, the plan outlines Germany's crucial role as a transit state for NATO troops, with expectations for its population and civil services to support foreign military personnel.
Last month, for the first time since 1989, the German government officially updated its wartime guidelines. The new guidelines include measures such as mandatory conscription and compelling manufacturers to produce war goods.
In its report on Friday, Der Spiegel claimed that under the classified 'Operational Plan Germany' (OPLAN DEU), Germany should be able to facilitate the transfer of 800,000 NATO troops and approximately 200,000 vehicles, including tanks and other hardware, from ports in the Netherlands and Belgium to the East within three to six months.
Read more: US, Germany announce hypersonic long-range fire deployments to Germany
Several key highways would be used for this purpose, thus requiring their closure to civilian traffic.
Both media outlets stated that local communities would be expected to provide passing military personnel with food, housing, resting areas, and fuel.
Ralph Tiesler, president of the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance, was quoted by Der Spiegel as saying "Enemy actors could take measures to hamper or slow down the movement of NATO troops," whether through sabotage or missile strikes.
Consequently, German police and emergency services would need to prioritize protecting these key routes and addressing the effects of any attacks on them.
In addition to its role as NATO's logistical hub, Germany would also need to establish a major prisoner-of-war camp on its soil if a military confrontation with Russia occurs, a Defense Ministry spokesperson told Bild.
Read more: Scholz turning Germany into 'NATO military outpost': AfD co-leader
The two media outlets quoted Bundeswehr Inspector General Carsten Breuer, who estimated that Berlin has until 2029 to prepare for a potential military conflict with Moscow, as Russia could potentially be in a position to attack NATO by then.
Local communities are already making provisions and conducting drills for this worst-case scenario. However, according to Der Spiegel, which cited the mayor of an unnamed town, locals have shown little enthusiasm for these efforts.
"Only a few have so far comprehended what the 'turn of eras' means," the media outlet quoted the official as saying.
In recent months, several NATO member states have claimed that Russia is planning to attack the US-led military bloc, to which Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed these allegations last month as "nonsense" and "bulls**t," adding that those promoting such narratives have "gone completely insane."
