Germany Quietly Drafts 1,200-Page War Plan to Move 800,000 NATO Troops East

The German authorities have spent several years secretly developing a large-scale plan for a potential military confrontation with Russia. According to a document cited by The Wall Street Journal, the plan envisions moving hundreds of thousands of NATO soldiers eastward. At the same time, Berlin faces significant logistical and infrastructure challenges.

Massive NATO Deployment and a Return to Cold War Logic

The classified document states that roughly 800,000 troops from Germany, the United States, and other alliance members would use German infrastructure to deploy forces to the east. The 1,200-page plan describes in detail which ports, rivers, railways, and highways would support the operation. The very existence of such a document signals a return to Cold War-era thinking and a blurring of the line between civilian and military spheres.

Germany currently faces numerous issues that planners must take into account. As a result, in a full-scale conflict the country would serve as NATO’s staging ground rather than front-line territory. Commenting on the report, Andrey Kolesnik of the Russian State Duma Defense Committee said that Germany still holds on to “revanchist ideas.”

“I don’t think Germany acts alone; this is a joint NATO operation. They try to intimidate us with demonstrative actions while preparing their Bundeswehr, which remains rather weak today. Their revanchist ideas haven’t gone away, but they should remember how it all ended,” Andrey Kolesnik said.

Bundeswehr Modernization Stalls Amid Funding Shortages

Last year reports noted that the German Armed Forces required additional funding for modernization because a 100-billion-euro special fund was insufficient. The fund allowed the Bundeswehr to purchase new fighter jets, armored vehicles, and ammunition, yet it still falls short of building a robust defense industry.

WSJ also emphasizes that modern German infrastructure needs extensive repair and cannot support large-scale military use, which would limit troop mobility in wartime. Authorities acknowledge that highways and bridges require major upgrades. Procurement rules, data protection laws, and other regulations created for peacetime further complicate preparations. Implementing the plan also demands a significant shift in public and institutional attitudes.

Shortage of Military Personnel and Calls to Revive Conscription

Germany has around 160,000 people in its reserve. Given its obligations within NATO, the Bundeswehr needs at least 460,000 active soldiers and reservists, said General Inspector Carsten Breuer. He argued that the forces must achieve full combat readiness by 2029, citing what he described as a threat from Moscow.

During the Cold War, West Germany had 500,000 active troops, and wartime mobilization could have increased the army to 1.3 million soldiers. Today, personnel shortages are only part of the problem. The average age of a German soldier rose from 32.4 years at the end of 2019 to 34 years by late 2024. Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul calls for the immediate return of compulsory service. The party of Chancellor Friedrich Merz also pushes to reinstate the draft.

Nevertheless, the SPD and CDU/CSU have agreed on measures to increase the size of the armed forces. Recruitment will still focus primarily on volunteers, but in certain cases authorities will have the option to call up a limited number of conscripts.