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Daily Mirror
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Germany to turn stations and car parks into bomb-proof bunkers over Russia fears
Ralph Tiesler, the head of Disaster Assistance in Germany, is calling for funding to transform public buildings and car parks into bunkers. He stressed the action needs to be taken before 2029 Germany is planning to transform metro stations and car parks into bomb-proof bunkers and shelters as they scramble to build defences against Russia. The plans come over fears that the Kremlin could attack a NATO country by 2029, prompting concerns over Germany's defence system. Ralph Tiesler, the head of the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance, stressed that the country needs to create a shelter which will fit around a million people inside. Speaking about the shift in urgency, he said: 'For a long time, there was a widespread belief in Germany that war was not a scenario for which we needed to prepare. That has changed. We are concerned about the risk of a major war of aggression in Europe.' He further explained that Germany must 'muster a functioning, comprehensive defence system by then." To ramp up the process of protection, Germany will utilise existing facilities such as tunnels, garages and the basements of public buildings, instead of creating brand-new shelters. Currently, the country has around 2,000 bunkers which were used in the Cold War. However, fewer than 600 are sufficient enough to use. On top of this, the current amount would only house 480,000, which is less than 1% of the German population, reports New York Post. Tiesler is calling for the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to fund the renovations and transform the public spaces. He told news site Zeit Online: "We don't want to unnecessarily frighten anyone, but we must nevertheless clearly warn of the danger of a military attack." It comes after Germany's chief of defence, General Carsten Breue, earlier stressed that NATO was facing a "very serious threat" from Russia. He previously told the BBC: "This is what the analysts are assessing - in 2029. So we have to be ready by 2029... If you ask me now, is this a guarantee that's not earlier than 2029? I would say no, it's not. So we must be able to fight tonight." He further supported the decision that Finland and Sweden made to join NATO shortly after Russia launched war against Ukraine. He added: "All of them understand the threat that is at the moment approaching Nato, all understand that we have to develop a direction of deterrence, into the direction of collective defence. This is clear to everyone. The urgency is seen."
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Germany preps for a war it hopes won't come: Fearing Russian invasion, Germany to revamp bunkers; tunnels, metros in shelter plan
Russian armoured vehicles and tanks roll along a street toward Red Square to attend a rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (AP) Germany has started preparing to expand its network of bunkers and shelters because of concerns that Russia could attack another European country within the next four years, according to reports. "For a long time, there was a widespread belief in Germany that war was not a scenario for which we needed to prepare. That has changed. We are concerned about the risk of a major war of aggression in Europe," Ralph Tiesler, the head of the federal office of civil protection and disaster assistance (BBK), told news outlet Süddeutsche Zeitung, as reported by The Guardian. There are growing concerns that after its three-year war in Ukraine, Russia may be able to target a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) country by 2029. Germany's chief of defence, General Carsten Breuer, told the BBC last week that Russia is making hundreds of tanks each year, which could be used in an attack on Nato countries in the Baltic region by 2029 or earlier. Meanwhile, Germany is focusing on using existing structures instead of building new bunkers, as new construction would take too long and be expensive. Tiesler's agency is working on plans to use tunnels, metro stations, underground garages, car parks, and the basements of public buildings as shelters. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Undo Tiesler said a national effort was needed to find and convert such spaces to 'quickly create space for 1 million people.' His agency will present a full plan later this summer, as per the report of The Guardian. He said the country is in a race against time, and relying only on new construction is not enough. "Such shelters would take a long time to plan and construct and be very costly," Tiesler said. So the focus must be on using existing spaces. Germany has about 2,000 bunkers from the Cold War era, but fewer than 600, 580 to be precise, are in working condition. Most will need costly repairs. But even then these would only shelter about 480,000 people, which is less than 1 per cent of Germany's population. In comparison, BBK said that Finland has 50,000 protection rooms, which can shelter 4.8 million people — about 85 per cent of its population. Russia's actions in Ukraine have led to similar actions across Europe. Poland, which borders Russia and Ukraine, plans to spend nearly 5 per cent of its GDP on defense this year — more than any other Nato country, according to a BBC report from last month.
New York Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Germany plans to revamp shelter system in case of Russian attack by 2029: ‘We are concerned about the risk of a major war'
Fearing Russia could attack another European country within the next four years, Germany is planning to expand its network of bomb-proof bunkers and shelters, according to reports. 'For a long time, there was a widespread belief in Germany that war was not a scenario for which we needed to prepare,' Ralph Tiesler, the head of the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance, said in a recent interview as reported by The Guardian. 'That has changed,' Tiesler said. 'We are concerned about the risk of a major war of aggression in Europe.' Advertisement 4 Germany's civil protection agency chief is warning that the country is not prepared for a Russian attack. Fears are mounting that the Kremlin — following its three-year war in Ukraine — could be capable of attacking a NATO country by 2029, so Germany must 'muster a functioning, comprehensive defense system by then,' Tiesler said. And time is of the essence. Germany cannot rely on building new bunker facilities in time so Tiesler's agency is working on plans to transform tunnels, metro stations, underground garages, car parks and the basements of public buildings into shelters. Advertisement To be presented this summer, they would create shelter for 1 million people, he estimated. The country has about 2,000 bunkers left over from the Cold War but fewer than 600 are in working order and most will require pricey renovations, Tiesler explained. Plus, those would only shelter about 480,000, less than 1% of the German population. 4 Germany's Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance is working on plans to transform metro stations and tunnels into shelters. 4 Germany's existing bunkers are nearly 80 years old and in need of renovations. Advertisement Finland, on the other hand, has 50,000 bunkers that could hold 4.8 million people, or 85% of its population, according to Tiesler's office. The agency leader is urging German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to fund the plans, as well as efforts to revamp apps, road signs and siren systems that would be used if residents need to take shelter. 'We don't want to unnecessarily frighten anyone, but we must nevertheless clearly warn of the danger of a military attack,' Tiesler told news site Zeit Online. 4 Russia's brutal war in Ukraine has caused fears in other European countries. AP Advertisement Russia's invasion of Ukraine has sparked similar concerns across Europe, motivating some countries to begin defense preparations. Poland, which borders Russia and Ukraine, plans to spend almost 5% of GDP on defense this year, the more than any of its NATO partners, the BBC reported last month.
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First Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
Germany plans rapid bunker expansion amid fears of Russian attack
Currently, only around 580 of Germany's 2,000 Cold War-era bunkers and protective spaces remain operational, with most requiring multimillion-euro upgrades. These facilities could accommodate approximately 480,000 people—just 0.5 per cent of the German population read more Germany is planning to swiftly expand its network of bomb-proof bunkers and shelters, according to the government's most senior civil protection officer, who warns that the country must be prepared for a Russian attack within the next four years. Ralph Tiesler, head of the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK), said that Europe's largest economy must face the reality of potential conflict, and that Germany is currently unprepared. 'For a long time, there was a widespread belief in Germany that war was not a scenario for which we needed to prepare,' he told Süddeutsche Zeitung. 'That has changed. We are concerned about the risk of a major war of aggression in Europe.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Tiesler called for a nationwide effort to identify and convert tunnels, underground stations, car parks, and cellars of public buildings into protective shelters in order to 'quickly create space for 1 million people'. He said his agency would submit a complete plan later this summer. He added that Germany was in a race against time and that building new bunker facilities alone would not suffice. Such construction would be both time-consuming and costly. Therefore, existing structures must be assessed and adapted without delay. Russia's escalating invasion of Ukraine has triggered concern in neighbouring countries, particularly the Baltic states, as well as in Poland and Germany, that Moscow could open new fronts across Europe. Currently, only around 580 of Germany's 2,000 Cold War-era bunkers and protective spaces remain operational, with most requiring multimillion-euro upgrades. These facilities could accommodate approximately 480,000 people—just 0.5 per cent of the German population. In contrast, the BBK noted that Finland possesses 50,000 protection rooms, enough to shelter 4.8 million people, or 85 per cent of its population. Tiesler also stressed the need to improve public information systems—including mobile apps and road signs—to clearly direct people to nearby shelters. He called for upgrades to Germany's warning sirens and better cybersecurity for existing alert apps. He urged Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government to ensure adequate funding for the BBK's proposals. Although the plans have been deemed necessary, funds have yet to be legally allocated. It is expected that resources from the billions released following the parliament's suspension of Germany's debt ceiling in March will be directed towards major investments in the military, critical infrastructure such as roads and bridges, and civil defence. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
