Germany plans to scale up bomb shelter infrastructure amid fears of Russian attack

Head of the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK), Ralph Tiesler, has announced that Germany is preparing to swiftly increase its network of bomb-resistant bunkers and shelters.

He warned that the nation must be ready for a possible Russian attack within the next four years, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Tiesler emphasised that Europe’s largest economy needs to confront the reality of potential conflict, stating that Germany is currently not adequately equipped to handle such threats.

“For a long time, there was a widespread belief in Germany that war was not a scenario for which we needed to prepare. That has changed. We are concerned about the risk of a major war of aggression in Europe,” he said.

Tiesler called for a nationwide initiative to identify and convert tunnels, metro stations, underground garages, car parks, and basements of public buildings into protective shelters to “quickly create space for 1 million people.” He mentioned that his agency plans to release a detailed proposal later this summer.

He also noted the urgency of the situation, pointing out that relying solely on building new bunkers would be insufficient due to the long planning and construction times and high costs involved. Therefore, existing structures must be evaluated and adapted as a more immediate solution. The ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine has heightened fears in neighboring countries—including the Baltic states, Poland, and Germany—that Moscow might open new fronts in Europe.

In a recent attack, Russian forces launched missile and bomb strikes on Kharkiv, killing three and injuring 22, with Mayor Ihor Terekhov describing the assault as “the most powerful attack since the start of the full-scale war.” Out of approximately 2,000 Cold War-era bunkers and shelters in Germany, only about 580 are currently operational, with most requiring multimillion-euro renovations. These facilities could shelter around 480,000 people, which is just 0.5 per cent of the population.

By comparison, Finland boasts 50,000 protective shelters, sufficient for 4.8 million people—or 85 per cent of its population, according to the BBK. Tiesler stressed that improvements are also needed in public information systems, such as apps and road signage, to clearly indicate shelter locations, along with upgrades to warning sirens. He added that existing alert apps must be better safeguarded against cyberattacks. 

He urged Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government to allocate the necessary funding to implement his agency’s plans. While the government acknowledges the need, formal funding decisions are still pending. Funds are expected to come from billions made available after Germany’s parliament suspended the country’s debt brake in March, enabling increased spending on the military, critical infrastructure capable of supporting tanks and supplies, and civil defense. Investment demands also come from intelligence and cybersecurity sectors, which are in dire need of financial support. 

Tiesler estimated that at least 10 billion euros will be needed over the next four years for civil defense, with at least 30 billion euros required over the next decade. He additionally proposed establishing either a mandatory or voluntary civil protection service and encouraged citizens to prepare by stockpiling emergency supplies in case of water and power outages. 

“Our appeal is: build up enough supplies to last you 10 days, if possible,” he told the newspaper, echoing similar recommendations from other European governments. “But even a supply for at least 72 hours would be very helpful,” Tiesler added. “This can be used to bridge minor interruptions in everyday life.”

By Naila Huseynova