Germany Develops Secret Plan for Potential War with Russia
BERLIN – Germany is rapidly developing a extensive defense plan, codenamed internally, to prepare for a potential large-scale conflict with Russia, according to a report by Expressen. The plan, initiated after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2023, addresses critical logistical and legal shortcomings hindering Germany’s defense capabilities after decades of relative peace.
The initiative comes amid growing concerns that Russia may be preparing for an attack on NATO sooner than previously anticipated.While German analysts had previously estimated a potential Russian attack readiness by 2029, recent incidents of sabotage and air strikes have heightened fears of an earlier confrontation. A potential cessation of fighting in Ukraine would also free up Russian resources for a westward shift.
“The goal is to prevent war by making it clear to our enemies that if thay attack us, they will not succeed,” stated a high-ranking officer involved in the plan’s progress.
Germany, both due to its geographic location and military capacity, would be a key nation in any conflict with Russia. The plan focuses on overcoming obstacles created by years of underinvestment and peacetime regulations. These include updating procurement rules and data protection laws,as well as addressing infrastructure deficiencies.
“We have to relearn what we have unlearned,” explained Nils Schmid,Germany’s deputy defense minister. “We have to drag people back from retirement to tell them how we did it back then.”
A meaningful challenge identified in the plan is the inadequacy of Germany’s infrastructure. Approximately 20 percent of German roads require repair and strengthening to support heavy military traffic,and over SEK 160 billion (approximately $15.6 billion USD) in investment is needed to upgrade ports along the Baltic and North Seas.
Despite these challenges, the German Army reports significant progress. “Considering that we started with a blank slate at the beginning of 2023, we are very satisfied with where we stand today. This is a very sophisticated product,” said an officer and co-author of the plan.
The primary uncertainty remains the timeframe for potential conflict. As Chancellor Friedrich Merz previously stated, “The threats are real. We are not at war, but we no longer live in peacetime.”
