The German Federation of Cities and Municipalities (DStGB) is demanding clear financial commitments from the federal government for the development of a national shelter concept. André Berghegger, the general manager of the DStGB, told the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” that protecting the population is a responsibility that must be managed at the state level.
Berghegger insisted that if the federal government expects local municipalities to identify, register, and make public protective and refuge spaces operational, it must also provide the necessary financial resources. He stressed that simply delegating tasks without securing permanent funding for their implementation is insufficient.
The Federal Interior Ministry and the states have been working on a national shelter concept for over two years. This concept is designed to determine how the German population can be protected from air attacks in the event of armed conflict. The plan focuses primarily on utilizing subway stations, underground garages, or cellars as safe havens. However, a coordinated and finalized concept is currently lacking. While the federal government had initially promised a funding program for equipping these refuge spaces, the Interior Ministry has now indicated that funding will initially only cover the “identification, recording, and marking” phase, according to a response to the newspaper.
Berghegger views this as inadequate. He stated that the shelter concept can only be successfully implemented if responsibility and financial support are properly aligned and if the municipal level is secured permanently. Cities and towns require clear mandates and a reliable source of funding-not just for investments, but also for ongoing costs such as maintenance, upkeep, and staffing. According to Berghegger, “Protracted and non-transparent processes, coupled with inadequate financing, will certainly not lead to effective civil protection.”
