Germany is drawing up a list of bunkers that could serve as emergency shelter for civilians, the Interior Ministry reported, at a time of growing tensions with Russia. The list would include underground train stations and parking lots, as well as public buildings and private properties, according to a ministry spokesperson.
As announced by Olaf Scholz’s government, a digital directory of bunkers and emergency shelters will be created so that citizens can find them quickly using a mobile application. People will also be encouraged to create protective shelters in their homes by converting basements and garages, the spokesperson told a news conference.
The government spokesperson did not give a timetable, saying it is a large project that will take time and will require the participation of the Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance and other authorities.
The country of 84 million people has 579 bunkers, mostly dating from World War II and the Cold War, that can house 480,000 people, compared to nearly 2,000 bunkers that once existed.
The German government spokesman said key points of the plan had been agreed at a conference of senior officials in June and that a special group was studying it.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, concerns have increased that Moscow could attack other NATO members. In October, German intelligence chiefs warned that Russia would likely be capable of launching an attack on the military alliance in 2030.
German officials say the country is already seeing a sharp increase in Russian espionage and sabotage activities. Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the conflict in Ukraine had the characteristics of a “world” war and did not rule out attacks on Western countries after Russia was bombarded by US and British missiles .
