Bastian Ernst, the CDU Member of Parliament and President of the Federal Armed Forces Reservists’ Association, has called for the retrieval of the Operation Plan Germany (OPLAN Germany) from the Saxon-Anhalt Chancellery, particularly should the AfD assume governmental power there. Speaking to Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, Ernst stressed the severe risks posed by the AfD, stating, “The AfD is a great danger to our country.” He warned that if the AfD governs Saxon-Anhalt, there is a high likelihood that the OPLAN Germany, along with other critical information, could end up flowing to Russia. Therefore, he argued the plan must be retrieved from the state.
Ernst also proposed an alternative solution: centralizing the OPLAN within the Ministry of Defense. This would ensure that the plan could only be accessed by authorized personnel or institutions after receiving prior approval. While acknowledging that different rules would apply in an actual wartime scenario, he concluded that this measure would grant the federal government greater oversight capabilities over the states, including Saxon-Anhalt. Information gathered by RND indicated that Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) had previously commented on the possibility of retrieving the plan from defense experts representing the coalition parties.
The OPLAN Germany, which is a highly classified document spanning over a thousand pages and is held by all 16 state governments, outlines the crucial measures for national defense at both the state and NATO alliance levels during a crisis or war. Political leaders anticipate that such a scenario might unfold primarily due to escalating tensions with Russia. In the event of conflict, Germany would serve as a central hub for NATO and its troops en route to the Eastern flank of the alliance. Furthermore, Russia could take countermeasures if it were to gain access to this plan.
