In Germany, too, after the Russian attack on Ukraine, the availability of civil defense bunkers is being considered again. They have been abandoned in many places and cannot be replaced anytime soon.
The President of the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance is skeptical about the possibility of building new bunkers. "Building new bunker systems with a very high level of protection costs a lot of money and, above all, a lot of time. It takes years," Ralph Tiesler told the "Tagesspiegel".
In the past few decades, many of the bunker systems in Germany have been released from civil protection and handed over to the Federal Real Estate Agency in order to eventually use them for other purposes or have them demolished. That was stopped first. The Federal Office is currently examining which bunker systems in Germany can still be used at all. "By the end of the year we want to have an overview of which shelters are still there. Over the course of the next year we want to know which of them can theoretically be reactivated," Tiesler told the "Tagesspiegel".
He thought it would make more sense to think about other concepts. For example, his authority wants to get an overview of which subway stations or underground car parks are suitable for offering protection to civilians. In addition, an inventory of the remaining bunkers and cellars is currently being carried out. Then it is a question of which ones could theoretically be reactivated for civil protection, Tiesler explained.
Tiesler criticized the fact that the funds earmarked for the BBK in the first government draft for the 2023 budget were not sufficient. "If politicians want to keep the promise that civil protection needs reinforcement, much more money is needed. My agency alone would need at least twice the amount envisaged," said Tiesler.
After the end of the Cold War, the sirens to warn the population were initially dismantled in many places. In 2007 it was decided to close down the public shelters. This process was finally halted in March when, after Russia's attack on Ukraine, civil defense began to become more of a focus in Germany as well.
