Germany readies for potential attack by Russia, general says

The head of Germany’s Armed Forces Support Command, Lt-Gen Gerald Funke, said in an interview with The Times that Russia could attack NATO countries within two to three years, and Germany could find itself at the epicentre of a potential conflict.

Funke stressed that one of the main challenges in such a scenario would be logistics: tens of thousands of allied soldiers would need to be transported to the front lines, while key road and rail routes could be damaged by Russian sabotage, cyberattacks, or missile strikes.

“It’s important for us to maintain Germany as a logistics hub and manage the supply lines for as long as possible as smoothly as possible, meaning that if one route fails we will have the option of using others instead.”

In addition, a large number of wounded soldiers could overwhelm German hospitals — even five military hospitals with 1,800 beds would not be enough. In response, the Armed Forces Support Command and the Federal Ministry of Health have divided the network of civilian hospitals into four sections that can be reserved for the wounded in a crisis.

The general noted that logistics is the most vulnerable part of Germany’s defense preparations for a possible attack. The Bundeswehr Command is developing a modern system for requisitioning trucks, railcars, food supplies, and personnel, and has initiated “reserve” agreements with the national rail operator Deutsche Bahn, under which it must provide trains for transporting military equipment within three days of notification.

Funke also highlighted challenges posed by Germany’s legal system: certain measures can only be implemented with the support of two-thirds of Bundestag deputies, making rapid response difficult in a crisis. According to him, the strict separation between peace and war has become outdated, especially given modern hybrid threats.

“What worries me … at the moment is the hybrid side, the covert side: sabotage, sleeper cells, some kind of targeted attacks. I can’t rule out the use of long-range missiles. But I think the hybrid threat is very high,” Funke said.

In December, the Bundesrat approved a law to modernise military service, and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius expects the Bundeswehr to recruit 20,000 volunteers in 2026 as part of the reform. Since January, 18-year-old residents of Germany have begun receiving questionnaires for selection into service.

By Khagan Isayev