Germany’s 1,400‑page “Operationsplan Deutschland” is the central document guiding how the country intends to prepare for a possible Russian attack. The plan requires the civilian side to be ready for war by 2029. This raises the question of who will pay for measures such as larger fuel depots that local districts might build, setting the stage for a potential conflict between the federal government and municipalities.
According to a paper issued by the Federal Ministry of the Interior, as reported by “Spiegel”, the comprehensive support of the armed forces by civilian authorities has long been a “central pillar of overall defense”. Because of this, the ministry argues there is no blanket obligation for the federal government to cover the costs. Instead, individual Länder (states), representing the municipalities, would need to demonstrate that a particular expense is specifically linked to defense purposes. Measures related to threat mitigation, such as disaster protection, remain the responsibility of the Länder and local authorities.
The German County Association-organizing all districts-has announced that it will examine the matter. An internal statement said, “At first glance, the broad statements about cost bearing should be questioned”. The municipalities’ main argument hinges on a 1997 federal‑state agreement that limits civil alarm planning to the highest state authorities, excluding local governments. The Interior Ministry now contests this interpretation.