Fearing Russia could attack another European country within the next four years, Germany is planning to expand its network of bomb-proof bunkers and shelters, according to reports.
“For a long time, there was a widespread belief in Germany that war was not a scenario for which we needed to prepare,” Ralph Tiesler, the head of the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance, said in a recent interview as reported by The Guardian.
“That has changed,” Tiesler said. “We are concerned about the risk of a major war of aggression in Europe.”
Fears are mounting that the Kremlin — following its three-year war in Ukraine — could be capable of attacking a NATO country by 2029, so Germany must “muster a functioning, comprehensive defense system by then,” Tiesler said.
And time is of the essence. Germany cannot rely on building new bunker facilities in time so Tiesler’s agency is working on plans to transform tunnels, metro stations, underground garages, car parks and the basements of public buildings into shelters.
To be presented this summer, they would create shelter for 1 million people, he estimated.
The country has about 2,000 bunkers left over from the Cold War but fewer than 600 are in working order and most will require pricey renovations, Tiesler explained. Plus, those would only shelter about 480,000, less than 1% of the German population.
Finland, on the other hand, has 50,000 bunkers that could hold 4.8 million people, or 85% of its population, according to Tiesler’s office.
The agency leader is urging German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to fund the plans, as well as efforts to revamp apps, road signs and siren systems that would be used if residents need to take shelter.
“We don’t want to unnecessarily frighten anyone, but we must nevertheless clearly warn of the danger of a military attack,” Tiesler told news site Zeit Online.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has sparked similar concerns across Europe, motivating some countries to begin defense preparations.
Poland, which borders Russia and Ukraine, plans to spend almost 5% of GDP on defense this year, the more than any of its NATO partners, the BBC reported last month.
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