German Army secret paper preps for war with Russia – Report

The German flag waves on a TPz Fuchs Armoured Personnel Carrier during Exercise Dynamic Front 25 on Grafenwöhr Training Area, Bavaria, Germany, on November 17, 2024. Exercise Dynamic Front takes place from November 04 to November 24 in Finland, Estonia, Germany, Poland, and Romania, and demonstrates NATO’s ability to share fire mission target information and operational graphics from the Arctic to the Black Sea. Exercise Dynamic Front includes more than 1,800 U.S. and 3,700 multi-national service members from 28 Allied and partner nations | Photo: U.S. Army/Sgt. Chandler Coats

The German Bundeswehr has put together a secret strategy paper called Operation Plan Germany, advising critical industries on maintaining secrecy of their establishments and operations, and protecting themselves in case of emergencies. The 1000-page document lists ‘all structures and infrastructure facilities that are particularly worthy of protection for military reasons,’ according to reporting by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper, and all contingencies to prepare for in case of a conflict.

The strategy paper that is said to be an evolving, ‘living document,’ includes ‘detailed plans’ for eventualities that range from defending Germany to deterring Russian manoeuvres on NATO’s eastern flank.

According to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper, the strategy paper anticipates that Germany might have to become a ‘hub for tens or hundreds of thousands of troops’ that have to be transported east, besides logistics for war materiel.

According to the report, the Bundeswehr has also conducted outreach with industry, with officers anticipating contingencies with stereotypically German attention to detail. One officer is reported advising industry to train five additional truck drivers for every hundred, while pointing out that ’70 percent of all trucks on Germany’s roads are moved by Eastern Europeans.’ “If there is war, where will these people come from?” the officer was quoted as asking in the report.

Contingencies also include managing the passage of allied troops through German cities, closure of crossings over rivers, damage and disruption of rail networks, closure of retail shops and supermarkets, electricity and water outages, as well as roadblocks and traffic stoppage due to movement of military columns.

Anecdotal evidence is cited that includes assassination plots of industry leaders, a growing number of espionage cases, recovery of weapons caches and drone surveillance to emphasise the seriousness of how Russia might be ‘shaping the battlefield’.

Meanwhile, Sweden has begun distributing booklets to its citizens, advising them on how to prepare for a potential Russian attack. This comes shortly after Norway and Finland have issues similar manuals to its citizens. The booklets include information about basic first-aid, storage of essential items, awareness of warning systems and shelter locations, besides digital security awareness.