Rapidly Building Million Shelters: German's Civil Defense Plan Amid European Tensions
Government Agency Pledges to Establish One Million Job Opportunities
In an effort to swiftly expand its defense network, German civil protectors want to transform tunnels, subway stations, underground garages, and public buildings' basements into shelters for a million people. As reported by the Süddeutsche Zeitung, the head of civilian protection, Ralph Tiesler, stating, "Building new bomb shelters with high protection standards is pricey and time-consuming—we require a faster solution."
The plan calls for providing essential facilities, including provisions for food, toilets, and possibly even makeshift beds for the occupants. Apps and signs will indicate these shelter spaces. Come summer, expect a shelter concept presentation from the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK), as per Tiesler.
This push towards preparedness roots from the escalating worries that Russia may launch an attack on NATO territory in the near future. Tiesler admitted, "The idea that war was an unnecessary scenario we didn't have to prepare for has been commonly held in Germany. However, times have changed. The threat of a major war in Europe has become a pressing issue." The planned infrastructure expansion and other proposals, such as modernizing the alarm system, have projected costs in the billions. "The tasks within civil defense are enormous," emphasized Tiesler. "We require at least 10 billion Euros over the next four years, and, in the next ten years, the need is at least 30 billion Euros."
Background:- Germany's growing unease about potential military conflicts in Europe has led to this aggressive civil defense push, with a major focus on repurposing existing infrastructure instead of investing in new construction.- Germany has approximately 2,000 Cold War-era bunkers, but only around 600 are functional, providing refuge for less than 1% of the population. More regional examples include Hesse, where 15 public shelters offer 33,000 spaces—requiring reactivation measures for civil defense purposes.
Cost Outlook:- Anticipated expenses over the next four years are estimated to be around 10 billion Euros, and, over the next decade, costs are projected to reach at least 30 billion Euros.
Implications:- The tumultuous situation in Ukraine has ignited widespread fear across Europe, prompting countries like Poland to raise defense spending significantly. Germany's civil defense push is a part of a broader European response to potential threats.- The current civil defense infrastructure in Germany is deemed insufficient, necessitating national efforts to ramp up readiness for potential conflicts.
- The community policy in Germany is focusing on repurposing existing infrastructure, such as tunnels and public buildings' basements, to create employment opportunities in the construction sector as part of their rapid expansion of civil defense shelters for a million people.
- In the realm of science and health-and-wellness, it's crucial to ensure these shelters provide essential facilities like food, toilets, and potentially makeshift beds for the occupants, promoting general-news discussions about the preparation for potential war-and-conflicts scenarios.
- The substantial costs projected for the civil defense expansion, estimated to be at least 30 billion Euros over the next decade, have political implications, implying that Germany and other European countries may need to reassess their employment policies and budget allocations to boost defense spending in response to the ongoing tension and potential threats in Europe.
