German military, Bundeswehr, preparing urban areas for potential combat scenarios

The German government has unveiled a comprehensive plan, known as Operations Plan Germany, to prepare the nation's infrastructure for potential conflict on German soil or in Eastern Europe. The plan, a response to Russia's attack on Ukraine, aims to provide a strong deterrent against all scenarios and prevent war.

Under the plan, the German Armed Forces have the authority to seize stored materials, goods, machines, vehicles, products, and even real estate in a tension or defense case. This includes the establishment of routes and collection points for internal refugees from east to west, as well as the transportation of wounded and killed soldiers, prisoners of war, and supplies via North Sea ports such as Bremerhaven.

Critical infrastructures identified in Germany include energy supply (electricity, gas, oil), water supply and wastewater disposal, transport and traffic, healthcare institutions such as hospitals, finance and insurance sectors, and the food industry. These infrastructures are vital for public life, and their failure would have severe consequences. To safeguard these infrastructures, protection measures focus on securing them against increasing threats like espionage, sabotage, or cyberattacks. This involves efforts in research, technology, and regulation to ensure resilience and uninterrupted service.

If a tension or defense case is declared, the currently suspended conscription for all German men aged 18 to 60 could be reactivated. Women can only be called upon for certain services in the event of a defense case according to current legislation.

Municipalities have a crucial role to play in this plan. They must contribute to making Germany a "hub" for NATO's allied forces in the event of war, ensuring the smooth marching of march units and the medical and logistical supply of troops. In addition, many cities have received visits from high-ranking officers of the Armed Forces in recent weeks for confidential meetings to prepare for an expansion of their military capabilities.

The German economy is also being mobilized. Companies are to prepare to provide combat-ready employees in case of war. This includes continuous supply of necessary products for defense if required.

Secret political committees of councils or district assemblies are in place in municipalities, ready to approve emergency measures by the administration. The implementation of security measures is scheduled to be determined in spring 2026.

The plan, painted in a working paper presented by the Federal Academy for Security Policy in January 2024, also includes concepts for the evacuation and establishment of collection points for displaced persons in large cities to prepare escape routes for tens of thousands of people. It also includes preparations for sealed cellar connections in inner cities to rescue survivors from bombed-out houses.

However, the plan also comes with potential risks. Companies could be compulsorily recruited for national defense in an emergency, with massive interventions in their autonomy, without direct compensation, and with incalculable risks to their existence. The possibility of legal recourse is excluded.

The German Armed Forces are urging cities and municipalities to prepare for a potential war on German soil. Planning efforts for the "Operations Plan Germany" began in March 2025 and are expected to be completed by fall 2025.

Russia's capabilities, as shown by its actions in Ukraine, include conducting large-scale military exercises in Belarus, nuclear threats, and naval activities along critical underwater infrastructure. The aim of the Operations Plan Germany is to visibly demonstrate Germany's defensive readiness, providing a strong deterrent against all scenarios, thereby preventing Russia from attacking and averting war.