Sunday, November 17, 2024

Conscription and rationing: Germany’s plan for war with Russia

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At the same time, Germany would order a large troop movement to the east to defend the country’s eastern Nato flank. It may also need to host and feed thousands of allied Nato soldiers on German soil as they transit towards the front line.

As part of those movements, tanks and other military vehicles would be given full priority on German roads and rail routes, and the government would have powers to suspend air traffic.

Some aspects of daily life would be ordered to continue as normal, such as the sitting of the Bundestag to preserve democracy and regular collection of rubbish.

All doctors, nurses, vets and psychologists would be divided between the Bundeswehr, the German army, and roles in civil society.

The German media will be obligated to provide certain updates or other pieces of information immediately, and German authorities will be allowed to evacuate certain parts of Germany while taking care to ensure families are not separated.

Boris Pistorius, the German defence minister, has vowed to turn Germany into a “war-ready” nation in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and he has warned a direct conflict could break out in as little as five years.

Mr Pistorius has also sought to bring back conscription in peacetime to increase the manpower of the Bundeswehr. However, he has reportedly faced stiff opposition from allies in the ruling SPD party, and is likely to water down the proposal to voluntary army service once it is fully announced.

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