The 1,400‑page “Operationsplan Deutschland” is the main document by which Germany intends to prepare for a possible Russian attack, and it calls for the civil side to also be ready for war until 2029. This raises the question of who will pay for measures such as larger fuel depots built by counties, a dispute that is already brewing between the federal government and local authorities.
According to an Interior Ministry paper quoted by “Spiegel”, the full support of the armed forces by civil authorities has long been a “central pillar of overall defence”. The ministry argues that there is no blanket obligation for the federal government to cover all costs. Instead, the states-representing the municipalities-must demonstrate to the federal that any additional expenditure is specifically tied to defence. By contrast, responsibilities for general hazard mitigation, such as disaster relief, remain a matter for the states and local governments.
The German District Council, the umbrella body for counties, has announced it will review the issue. In an internal statement it said that, “initial assessment shows that the general statements about cost‑sharing should be questioned”. County leaders point to a 1997 federal‑state agreement that limits civil alarm planning to the top state authorities and excludes municipalities, a stance the Interior Ministry now disputes.
