Germany’s Plan to Expand Bomb Shelters for Civilian Safety

Germany to Develop Plan for Expanding Bomb Shelter Capacity

German authorities are drafting a plan to expand the availability of bomb shelters for civilians by repurposing public and private buildings, Bild reports, citing sources.

The publication notes that Germany currently faces a shortage of accessible bomb shelters. The country has only 579 shelters capable of accommodating fewer than 500,000 people, while the total population is 83 million. This shortage stems from a 17-year policy of dismantling protective structures, based on the assumption that they would no longer be necessary.

The Need for Bomb Shelters: Addressing a Critical Shortage

Ralph Tiesler, head of the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK), stated that building a comprehensive network of bunkers will require significant time. The plan includes utilizing all suitable public spaces as protective structures, such as metro stations, public service centers, administrative buildings, and private homes.

Public and Private Solutions: Repurposing Buildings for Protection

Additionally, German authorities aim to encourage residents to create fortified rooms on their private properties. A specialized mobile app will also be developed to provide users with the location of the nearest shelter in the event of an air raid threat.

Earlier, Germany's Ministry of Defense confirmed that Berlin has a contingency plan in place for a potential military conflict with Russia. According to Defense Ministry representative Mitko Müller, the plan was initiated and developed several years ago.