Report: Germany's secret plan for war with Russia

By KEVIN ADJEI-DARKO, SENIOR FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER

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Germany has drawn up a classified 1,200-page plan that spells out how up to 800,000 NATO troops would be dispatched to Europe's frontlines if Russia attempted an attack on the alliance. It comes after senior officials at the organisation warned that Vladimir Putin could be ready to test NATO's borders before 2029. Germany's operation, known as OPLAN DEU, was written in secret by a small group of senior officers inside the Julius Leber Barracks in Berlin. It is now being rolled out at speed as intelligence agencies warn that Moscow 's recent sabotage attempts, drone incursions and spying operations across Europe may signal preparations for an earlier confrontation.

Germany has drawn up a classified 1,200-page plan that spells out how up to 800,000 NATO troops would be dispatched to Europe's frontlines if Russia attempted an attack on the alliance. It comes after senior officials at the organisation warned that Vladimir Putin could be ready to test NATO's borders before 2029. Germany's operation, known as OPLAN DEU, was written in secret by a small group of senior officers inside the Julius Leber Barracks in Berlin. It is now being rolled out at speed as intelligence agencies warn that Moscow 's recent sabotage attempts, drone incursions and spying operations across Europe may signal preparations for an earlier confrontation.

The blueprint describes in detail how German, American and allied forces would be moved from ports and airfields in the west to the eastern front, using a network of roads, rail links and rivers that planners admit have been weakened by decades of underinvestment. The document, revealed in a Wall Street Journal report, also outlines how convoys would be protected from sabotage, misinformation campaigns and drone attacks along the way. German officials have repeatedly warned that Russia could regain enough strength to threaten a NATO member by 2029. But senior figures now believe Moscow may move sooner if a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine frees up troops and equipment.

The blueprint describes in detail how German, American and allied forces would be moved from ports and airfields in the west to the eastern front, using a network of roads, rail links and rivers that planners admit have been weakened by decades of underinvestment. The document, revealed in a Wall Street Journal report, also outlines how convoys would be protected from sabotage, misinformation campaigns and drone attacks along the way. German officials have repeatedly warned that Russia could regain enough strength to threaten a NATO member by 2029. But senior figures now believe Moscow may move sooner if a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine frees up troops and equipment.

Analysts say Europe's geography puts Germany directly in the pathway of any major reinforcement effort. 'With the Alps forming a natural barrier, NATO troops would have to cross Germany,' said Tim Stuchtey of the Brandenburg Institute for Society and Security. The plan marks a major shift for Germany, which for decades dismantled the infrastructure it once relied on during the Cold War. Large parts of the current road and rail network cannot support heavy military vehicles, and many bridges are too weak for armoured convoys. Government estimates say 20 per cent of highways and more than a quarter of highway bridges require urgent repairs, while ports in the North Sea and Baltic Sea need €15 billion in upgrades.

Analysts say Europe's geography puts Germany directly in the pathway of any major reinforcement effort. 'With the Alps forming a natural barrier, NATO troops would have to cross Germany,' said Tim Stuchtey of the Brandenburg Institute for Society and Security. The plan marks a major shift for Germany, which for decades dismantled the infrastructure it once relied on during the Cold War. Large parts of the current road and rail network cannot support heavy military vehicles, and many bridges are too weak for armoured convoys. Government estimates say 20 per cent of highways and more than a quarter of highway bridges require urgent repairs, while ports in the North Sea and Baltic Sea need €15 billion in upgrades.

Planners say the country must now rebuild an 'all of society' approach to defence. This means updating outdated laws, reversing years of procurement delays and bringing private companies into military planning. 'We must relearn what we unlearnt,' said Deputy Defence Minister Nils Schmid. 'We have to drag people back from retirement to tell us how we did it back then.' Elements of this new strategy were tested during a series of large exercises this autumn. In one drill, the defence contractor Rheinmetall built a camp for 500 soldiers, complete with showers, fuel stations and drone surveillance, in just 14 days. But the drills also exposed problems - some sites were too small for the number of military vehicles, while others were spread across separate plots of land.

Planners say the country must now rebuild an 'all of society' approach to defence. This means updating outdated laws, reversing years of procurement delays and bringing private companies into military planning. 'We must relearn what we unlearnt,' said Deputy Defence Minister Nils Schmid. 'We have to drag people back from retirement to tell us how we did it back then.' Elements of this new strategy were tested during a series of large exercises this autumn. In one drill, the defence contractor Rheinmetall built a camp for 500 soldiers, complete with showers, fuel stations and drone surveillance, in just 14 days. But the drills also exposed problems - some sites were too small for the number of military vehicles, while others were spread across separate plots of land.

In a previous test, a convoy was delayed by traffic congestion that required an entirely new traffic light system to fix. These issues are being fed back into updated versions of the plan. The current document is stored on an isolated internal system known as the 'red network' and is expected to go through repeated revisions as Germany prepares for a potential conflict. The challenge facing Germany is not only physical. Officials say peacetime laws hamper the ability to counter sabotage or deploy drones for surveillance. Threats to infrastructure are already growing. Germany has recorded thousands of background security checks on critical infrastructure employees, and courts have jailed individuals for planning attacks on transport networks.

In a previous test, a convoy was delayed by traffic congestion that required an entirely new traffic light system to fix. These issues are being fed back into updated versions of the plan. The current document is stored on an isolated internal system known as the 'red network' and is expected to go through repeated revisions as Germany prepares for a potential conflict. The challenge facing Germany is not only physical. Officials say peacetime laws hamper the ability to counter sabotage or deploy drones for surveillance. Threats to infrastructure are already growing. Germany has recorded thousands of background security checks on critical infrastructure employees, and courts have jailed individuals for planning attacks on transport networks.

This week, Polish authorities linked an explosion on railway tracks to Russian involvement. OPLAN DEU began shortly after Russia launched its full-scale attack on Ukraine in 2022. Former Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced a €100 billion rearmament package, and the military created a new Territorial Command tasked with writing the plan. The blueprint was completed in its first form last year and has since been expanded to include hospitals, police forces and disaster agencies. Exercises have tested how troops would move through major cities. In Hamburg, 500 NATO soldiers arrived by ship and attempted to form a 65-vehicle convoy to move east.

This week, Polish authorities linked an explosion on railway tracks to Russian involvement. OPLAN DEU began shortly after Russia launched its full-scale attack on Ukraine in 2022. Former Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced a €100 billion rearmament package, and the military created a new Territorial Command tasked with writing the plan. The blueprint was completed in its first form last year and has since been expanded to include hospitals, police forces and disaster agencies. Exercises have tested how troops would move through major cities. In Hamburg, 500 NATO soldiers arrived by ship and attempted to form a 65-vehicle convoy to move east.

The drill simulated drone surveillance, protest blockades and attacks on key choke points. Soldiers were forced to halt for hours because police did not have the chemicals required to remove activists who had glued themselves to the road. Despite the challenges it faces, the military insists it is progressing quickly. 'Considering that we started with a blank page in early 2023, we are very happy with where we are today,' said one of the plan's authors. 'This is a very sophisticated product.' Yet the most pressing question remains how much time Europe has left. German leaders warn that the security environment is deteriorating fast. 'The threats are real,' Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in September. 'We're not at war, but we no longer live in peacetime.' In recent months, Putin has been accused of provocations by violating NATO members' airspace with drones and fighter jets.

The drill simulated drone surveillance, protest blockades and attacks on key choke points. Soldiers were forced to halt for hours because police did not have the chemicals required to remove activists who had glued themselves to the road. Despite the challenges it faces, the military insists it is progressing quickly. 'Considering that we started with a blank page in early 2023, we are very happy with where we are today,' said one of the plan's authors. 'This is a very sophisticated product.' Yet the most pressing question remains how much time Europe has left. German leaders warn that the security environment is deteriorating fast. 'The threats are real,' Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in September. 'We're not at war, but we no longer live in peacetime.' In recent months, Putin has been accused of provocations by violating NATO members' airspace with drones and fighter jets.

In September, several Russian drones sent to Ukraine in an overnight attack crossed into Poland, hitting the home of an elderly couple and destroying its roof. Analysts have said World War Three could have been triggered if the occupants had been killed. The Polish government responded by vowing to shoot down any foreign objects in its airspace. That same month, NATO fighter jets were scrambled after three of Putin's powerful MIG-31 aircraft were seen flying over Estonia and staying there for 12 minutes. On September 22, Copenhagen Airport, the busiest in Denmark, was forced to close for several hours after suspected Russian drones were seen flying over its runway. It led to several flight cancellations and redirections, and left over 20,000 people stranded. There have also been accusations of Russian drones over military bases across the continent.

In September, several Russian drones sent to Ukraine in an overnight attack crossed into Poland, hitting the home of an elderly couple and destroying its roof. Analysts have said World War Three could have been triggered if the occupants had been killed. The Polish government responded by vowing to shoot down any foreign objects in its airspace. That same month, NATO fighter jets were scrambled after three of Putin's powerful MIG-31 aircraft were seen flying over Estonia and staying there for 12 minutes. On September 22, Copenhagen Airport, the busiest in Denmark, was forced to close for several hours after suspected Russian drones were seen flying over its runway. It led to several flight cancellations and redirections, and left over 20,000 people stranded. There have also been accusations of Russian drones over military bases across the continent.

Officials in the European Union have warned that Russia is in a proxy war with Europe, a claim the Kremlin has consistently denied. Several European countries have been thinking ahead in preparation for the eventuality of war with Putin's forces. Yesterday, France revealed its plans to bring back military national service for 18-year-old men and women. Meanwhile, earlier this year, Poland announced that it would begin military training for all adult men. The country, along with Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, which all share a border with Russia, pulled out of the Ottawa Convention, banning anti-personnel landmines. Europe is also set to unveil a new anti-drone system that would repel any future Russian attacks.

Officials in the European Union have warned that Russia is in a proxy war with Europe, a claim the Kremlin has consistently denied. Several European countries have been thinking ahead in preparation for the eventuality of war with Putin's forces. Yesterday, France revealed its plans to bring back military national service for 18-year-old men and women. Meanwhile, earlier this year, Poland announced that it would begin military training for all adult men. The country, along with Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, which all share a border with Russia, pulled out of the Ottawa Convention, banning anti-personnel landmines. Europe is also set to unveil a new anti-drone system that would repel any future Russian attacks.

UkraineGermanyVladimir PutinNATOMoscow

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