Germany Overhauls Civil Defense with Ukraine as Model

The German government has approved a new civil defense plan that prioritizes ordinary public spaces as shelters over traditional Cold War-era bunkers. Underground car parks, tunnels and metro stations are to serve as potential refuges.

The debate on civil defense in Europe has intensified since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Germany has significantly increased defense spending since then, and part of the new plan will be financed through a special fund exempted from public debt rules.

According to government figures, Germany currently has 579 shelters with capacity for around 480,000 people, many of which have not been used since the Cold War. The government plans to invest ten billion euro in strengthening civil protection, with the funds earmarked for more than 1,000 specialist vehicles, protective suits and the modernization of the mass warning system.

The interior ministry also plans to establish a central control unit to coordinate cooperation between public institutions.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt described the existing civil defense model as inadequate for today's security environment. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said the new system draws on the experience of Ukraine, where apps warn civilians of attacks and direct them to seek shelter.

(reuters, max)