The President of the German Red Cross (DRK), Herrmann Gröhe, is urgently calling for billions of euros in additional funding to bolster Germany’s civil and population protection capabilities amid escalating security risks. Speaking to the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, Gröhe emphasized that if the federal government anticipates a potential attack scenario against NATO in 2029, preparations for civilian defense must begin today, not tomorrow. He stressed that the ability to provide protection-even in the event of military conflict-requires rapid, comprehensive national buildup. Gröhe criticized the current state of affairs, noting that volunteer helpers are sometimes provided equipment that is decades out of date.
Major aid organizations insist that Germany must undertake a “turning point” (Zeitenwende) in its civil defense strategy. Gröhe specified that the German Red Cross requires two billion euros through 2027, followed by at least one billion euros annually thereafter. While acknowledging that this amount is substantial, he noted it remains significantly lower than the staggering €180 billion defense budget targeted by 2030.
Similarly, Oliver Meermann, a board member representing the Johanniter-Unfallhilfe, warned that effective population protection is impossible without strong aid organizations backing them. Meermann demanded that the overall annual funds for these organizations and their partners be perpetually increased to approximately €2.6 billion.
Experts suggest that Germany should model its response and systems after Ukraine, citing the country’s demonstrated resilience and internal protection mechanisms. Gröhe reiterated the fundamental principle: “There is no total defense without population protection”. He warned that if citizens are left without care or direction during a crisis, a country can quickly collapse.
Citing the German Armed Forces’ assessment that Russia might attempt to test NATO territory by 2029, Gröhe warned of the dire consequences of inaction. He concluded by stating that if the nation fails to prepare for such crises, it will abandon its own population when it is most needed. The requested funds should ideally be allocated toward rescue services, infrastructure improvements like mobile housing units, and comprehensive training for care support personnel and first aiders, reinforcing that this education must happen now, because waiting until a crisis hits will be tragically too late.
