Germany is accelerating plans to expand its civil defence infrastructure, aiming to shield up to 1 million people in upgraded bunkers by 2028. Ralph Tiesler, head of the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK), issued a stark warning, saying Germany must prepare for a potential war with Russia.
“For a long time, there was a widespread belief in Germany that war was not a scenario for which we needed to prepare,” Tiesler told Süddeutsche Zeitung. “That has changed. We are concerned about the risk of a major war of aggression in Europe.”
Tiesler’s office will submit a detailed plan this summer, focusing on converting existing public spaces like tunnels, underground stations, car parks, and cellars into emergency shelters. He stressed that relying on new construction alone would be too slow and expensive to meet urgent civil defence needs.
Germany in a Race Against Time as War Fears Grow
Germany currently has only around 580 operational bunkers out of the 2,000 Cold War-era structures across the country. These bunkers can house just 480,000 people—less than 0.5% of the German population. In contrast, Finland maintains 50,000 protection rooms that can shelter 85% of its population.
Tiesler emphasised the need to act quickly. “We must quickly create space for 1 million people,” he said. “Existing structures must be assessed and adapted without delay.”
He also called for immediate improvements to public alert systems. The BBK is planning to enhance mobile apps, restore road signs leading to shelters, and modernise Germany’s warning sirens. Tiesler also pushed for better cybersecurity in the country’s emergency infrastructure.
Although the plans have been acknowledged by the government, no legal funds have been allocated yet. Tiesler urged Chancellor Friedrich Merz to commit resources from the billions made available after Germany suspended its debt ceiling in March. These funds are expected to support defence, infrastructure, and civil protection.
