Germany Plans 10 Billion Euro for Civil Defense

Why this is here: Sweden provides shelter for about 65,000 people in its bunkers—enough space for roughly 61% of its population.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt presented a plan to invest roughly 10 billion euros into civil defense by 2029. The initiative responds to warnings that Germany lags behind Nordic neighbors in protecting its population. Sweden offers about 65,000 bunkers for its roughly 10.6 million citizens, while Germany currently has 579 public shelters with space for around 478,000 people.

The plan includes establishing a “Civil Defense Command” within the Interior Ministry. It also aims to procure around 1,000 specialized vehicles and at least 110,000 stackable field beds. Germany intends to integrate public shelters—including bunkers, subway cellars, and tunnels—into the emergency alert app “Nina,” helping citizens locate the nearest safe space.

However, the government admits it does not yet know exactly how many potential shelters exist or how many are actually usable. Critics point out the lack of a comprehensive strategy and the need for better coordination with states and municipalities. The work to fully assess and repair existing infrastructure continues.