Germany plans huge bunker expansion as Russian threat surges

Germany is working on a major expansion of its civil defense infrastructure, including its network of bunkers, as concerns mount over a potential Russian attack.

Ralph Tiesler, head of the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK), has warned that Germany must wake up to the reality of the threat posed by Moscow, stating the country is ill-prepared for a possible conflict.

“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,” Tiesler told Süddeutsche Zeitung.

He is calling on the government to repurpose existing infrastructure—including tunnels, subways, and parking garages—into shelters for the civilian population, arguing that building new bunkers alone will not be enough.

Many officials now fear that the Kremlin’s next target could be a Baltic state or even Finland, where Russia is reportedly amassing troops and military equipment.

Tiesler has urged the government, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, to allocate the necessary funds for this extensive civil protection effort.

(QG - Source: The Guardian - Picture : © Unsplash)