War in Europe: Are Ellwangen's bunker really safe?

War in Europe: Are Ellwangen's bunker really safe?

The current security situation in Europe and in particular the risk of war in Germany is the focus of the public in the focus of the public. This also becomes clear in Ellwangen, where citizens are increasingly thinking about air protection. City chief Volker Grab and the disaster protection officer Jürgen Schäfer commented concerns about the condition and the upgrading of old bunkers and shelters.

The Ellwanger fire station serves as a "lighthouse" in crisis situations to forward emergency calls by digital radio if the emergency numbers 110 or 112 should no longer work. This measure is no coincidence, given the increased concern among the population as a result of the Ukraine War and the associated threats that emerge from Russia's President Vladimir Putin. A basic analysis of the existing protection options is essential, this is not just the bunkers on the Hungerberg area of ​​the former Reinhardt barracks, such as Schwäbische Post reported.

The condition of the shelters

The condition of many bunkers in Germany is largely inadequate. Many of the protective plants that were built during the Second World War and until the 1980s have become decayed or leaking. As Ulrich Nagl, the city's conversion officer, Ellwangen explained some former bunkers who were once intended for soldiers, but they are not interpreted for civil needs. It becomes dangerous if the armed argument actually attacks your own country in crisis times.

The city of Ellwangen had two modern shelters in underground car parks until a few years ago, but which were secured in 2007 after a decision by the Federal Ministry of the Interior. The decision at that time resulted from the high maintenance costs and the increased need for security for the public, since at that time the capacity of the former shelters no longer met the need. According to the Federal Office for Population Protection and Disaster Aid (BBK), there are currently 579 public shelters in Germany with around 480,000 protective places, but these are often no longer sufficiently usable.

The challenges of civil protection

The challenges in civil protection are diverse. Jürgen Schäfer emphasizes that civilian shelters have to meet different requirements than military bunker systems. These adjustments are necessary to offer the citizens the necessary protection. A comprehensive national shelter concept is considered to check the structural requirements and possibly capture private properties as a refuge, which makes systematic planning necessary to adequately counter the threat.

The discussion about the reactivation and preservation of the shelters gains urgency. Political representatives of the traffic light coalition emphasize the need for investments in the warning infrastructure and the correct equipment of critical infrastructures. Despite the current situation, a large -scale bunker building is not expected, rather the actors rely on information campaigns and recommendations for action to prepare the population accordingly.

The necessary questions about civil protection and the further development of shelters therefore remain central to public security and the protection of the civilian population. As the various actors, including the Federal Office for Population Protection and Disaster Aid, determine, a careful review and re-evaluation are now required by the safety standards to adapt today's threat situation.