Germany will conscript the young, ration food and turn subway stations into bomb shelters during wartime, according to a new government preparations for a future conflict with Russia.
German officials have released a 67-page document which outlines how the outbreak of war will affect the civilian population, in particular those in professions that can support the army.
According to the document, national conscription would return to Germany and the employment agency would have powers to force skilled citizens over-18 to work in certain fields – and prevent them from quitting if their work is useful to the war effort.
The German government would also ration food allowing for at least one hot meal per day, and would rely on secret grain stockpiles to maintain food security.
German businesses would be required to switch towards defence production, while hospitals would be told to prepare to receive a large influx of war casualties from the eastern front.
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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