This is how the Bundeswehr prepares for war

What would it mean for German businesses if war broke out in Western Europe? German army leadership made the recommendations in a document classified as “secret.”

Felix Leitmeier/t-online

Germany is preparing for emergencies. The Bundeswehr drafted the first version of a 1,000-page document known as the “German Operational Plan.” According to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (“FAZ”), it describes how the country should act if it is more directly affected by the war than an attack in Ukraine.

The Bundeswehr has warned that Russia may be willing and able to push further west within four to five years. Lieutenant Colonel Jörn Plischke explained this at an event of the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, which was also reported by FAZ. He relied on German intelligence.

Russia is rearming on a massive scale: Russia currently produces 25 main battle tanks per month, while Germany only produces 3 per year. The military has observed an increase in drone flyovers, cyberattacks and acts of sabotage.

When war broke out in the east, Germany was short of personnel

In general, critical infrastructure such as bridges, ports and power grids should be protected. It is also clear that if a defensive situation arises, or if Russia's exercises on NATO's eastern flank are met with a deterrent response, Germany will become a hub for soldiers, weapons, war materiel and medicine.

The economy in particular should arm itself. According to reports, Lieutenant Colonel Plishke called on companies to prepare for crisis situations. They should develop contingency plans to prepare their generators or wind turbines for outages and make employees more aware of safety issues.

The Bundeswehr's plans were very detailed. Plishke recommended that companies train more truck drivers. The reason: most drivers are from Eastern Europe. The lieutenant colonel said:

The state may intervene in companies

In crisis situations, the state has broad powers. The gas supply crisis has shown how quickly politicians can intervene: at the time, the federal government, among other things, legally replenished gas storage facilities, nationalized gas importer Uniper and procured floating LNG terminals.

“FAZ” quoted a statement from Bertram Brossart, general manager of the Bavarian Chamber of Commerce, as saying that in an emergency, it may even be possible to switch to a planned economy. The state can also issue food stamps and even force people to work in certain sectors, such as water or transportation companies.

The following also applies to companies: Anyone who has employees today who volunteer to work in disaster control, THW or the fire department will have an advantage later on. “It takes a few days every year to support this,” Plishke said. In a crisis, you have direct contact with those protecting people and infrastructure.

Hamburg as central hub of focus

Hamburg, where Lieutenant Colonel Jorn Prischke's event took place, is a central hub for the transport of goods and troops. According to “FAZ”, the Hanseatic city mayor Peter Tschentscher warned: “If our infrastructure is used for military purposes, the risk of cyber attacks and sabotage will increase significantly.”

Therefore, additional positions were created in the Hamburg Senate to enhance citizen protection. A third homeland security company was commissioned, made up of volunteers who do not fight with the troops but are dedicated to protection and security.

Exercises between the Bundeswehr and civilian forces are currently taking place in the Hanseatic city. One, called Red Storm Alpha, will involve training to protect port facilities, the report said. The next exercise, Red Storm Bravo, will take place soon and will be even larger.

The experience from these exercises was subsequently incorporated into the “German Organizational Plan”. It should be a “living document” that continually evolves and adapts to new information and threats.

source

(t-online/dsc)

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