Top general: Germany prepares for potential Russian attack on NATO

Germany is actively preparing for a possible Russian attack on NATO, with military planners warning that a full-scale conflict could unfold within the next two to three years, said Lieutenant General Gerald Funke.

Funke, head of the Bundeswehr Support Command (UstgKdoBw), is spearheading a comprehensive strategy to keep the German armed forces and allied logistics functioning under the strain of modern warfare, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

Funke envisions a scenario in which a 4,800-strong German mechanised brigade is deployed from Lithuania in the opening hours of a conflict, followed by rapid reinforcement of 15,000 troops, with tens of thousands more arriving over subsequent weeks. He warns that Germany’s hospitals could be overwhelmed by hundreds of casualties daily, comparable to the pressures seen during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Bundeswehr Support Command, a new organisation formed in last year’s military reorganisation, is responsible for everything behind the front lines—from evacuating and treating the wounded to managing resources from civilian firms and maintaining supply lines amid potential Russian sabotage, cyberattacks, and missile strikes. Funke described the hybrid threat, including covert sabotage and sleeper cells, as “very high” and emphasised the importance of maintaining Germany as a central NATO logistics hub.

Much of Funke’s planning draws on lessons from the Cold War, when West Germany maintained detailed civil and military mobilisation plans. Every soldier, reservist, and civilian authority knew their role precisely, a practice largely abandoned after 1990 during the “peace dividend.”

Funke is reviving this approach for the modern era, integrating cyber warfare, drones, and electronic surveillance into large-scale logistics exercises.

Civilian cooperation is central to Germany’s preparedness. Companies and public authorities are being enlisted to support transport, medical care, and supply distribution. However, Funke notes that many businesses remain unaware of the potential demands and that medical planning remains a challenge.

The Bundeswehr’s five military hospitals, with 1,800 beds, would be insufficient in a major conflict, prompting the division of civilian clinics into regional clusters for crisis treatment.

Legal and political hurdles add complexity. Certain military measures require parliamentary approval, but the law allows some retroactive authorisation in the face of imminent danger. Funke insists that Germany can respond swiftly despite bureaucratic constraints.

Exercises across Germany and the Baltic states, including large-scale drills in Hamburg and Lithuania, aim to familiarise troops and civilians with modern warfare scenarios. These drills simulate everything from drone strikes to disrupted supply routes, ensuring that forces can adapt quickly under pressure.

Funke concludes: “Rigid plans alone won’t suffice. We must be able to improvise. Putin isn’t going to wait while we sort out the logistics. Our readiness depends on constant practice and civilian cooperation.”

By Aghakazim Guliyev