Germany is moving to address its lack of civil defense infrastructure by converting metro stations and public buildings into bomb shelters. The initiative comes as fears of a potential conflict with Russia grow, driven by Moscow’s ongoing aggression in Ukraine and threats against NATO allies.
The Federal Office for Civil Protection is leading the effort to identify structures that can be repurposed for emergency use. Currently, Germany has only 579 public shelters, enough for just 500,000 people, leaving the vast majority of its 84.4 million citizens without protection.
Officials are also developing a civil protection app to guide residents to the nearest shelter. In the meantime, Germans are being urged to create private shelters in basements or other secure areas of their homes.
Germany dismantled much of its bunker network in 2007, a decision now seen as shortsighted in light of rising geopolitical tensions. Ralph Tiesler, head of the Federal Office for Civil Protection, has warned that rebuilding the network from scratch could take decades, highlighting the need for immediate solutions.
The Christian Democrats (CDU) have criticized the government’s slow response, calling for rapid expansion of shelter capacity. CDU MP Andrea Lindholz cited Poland’s proactive approach, where new construction will include shelter access by 2026.
Germany’s renewed focus on civil defense underscores the urgency of preparing for potential conflict as the threat from Russia looms larger.
