The federal government plans a substantial overhaul of its civil defense capabilities in preparation for war or terrorist attacks, allocating funds through a special program worth ten billion euros. This proposal, reported by “Bild” based on a cabinet draft, earmarks the money for acquiring additional equipment and buildings, as well as bolstering personnel and technology, particularly within the Technical Relief Agency (THW).
Furthermore, a new department, the “Command for Civil Defence” is slated to be established within the Federal Interior Ministry. This department will be responsible for coordinating the response effort with the armed forces (Bundeswehr) during a period of defense.
Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) stated that the government is upgrading its public safety measures and civil defense efforts. He emphasized a definite stance against hybrid threats and continued, consistent support for voluntary forces. Dobrindt noted the goal of integrating military and civilian defense structures to achieve “greater safety and resilience”.
Regarding concrete actions, Dobrindt outlined several goals by 2029, including the acquisition of 1,000 new specialized vehicles and 110,000 new field beds. A comprehensive construction program will be established for the facilities owned by the THW. Moreover, the plan includes building a medical federal task force at 50 locations to handle a “mass influx” of injured people. On a nationwide scale, all public shelters-including bunkers, tunnels, and underground car parks-are planned to be mapped into a single registry. This centralized data will then be integrated into the federal NINA warning app, making the locations visible to the public.