The Wall Street Journal has revealed details of a secret plan developed by Germany in the event of war with Russia.

Source: WSJ; European Pravda

Details: The plan was drawn up by around a dozen senior German officers. Work on it began about two and a half years ago.

The 1,200-page document sets out in detail how 800,000 German, US and other NATO troops would be moved eastward to the front line.

It maps the ports, rivers, railways and roads they would use, as well as how they would be supplied and protected along the way.

German officials earlier said that they expect Russia to be ready and willing to attack NATO in 2029. But a series of espionage incidents, sabotage attacks and incursions into European airspace suggest it may be preparing to strike earlier.

Analysts also believe that any possible ceasefire in Ukraine could free up time and resources for Russia to prepare for action against NATO members in Europe.

The authors of the plan believe that if they can strengthen Europe's resilience, they will not only be able to secure victory but also reduce the likelihood of war.

"The goal is to prevent war by making it clear to our enemies that if they attack us, they won't be successful," said a senior military officer and one of the plan's earliest authors.

Some of the biggest obstacles facing Germany's military planners are intangible: complex procurement rules and data-protection laws and other regulations drawn up in a more peaceful era.

The plan pays particular attention to infrastructure. Berlin estimates that 20% of motorways and more than a quarter of motorway bridges need repair because of chronic underfunding.

Germany's ports on the North Sea and Baltic Sea require an investment of €15 billion, including €3 billion for dual-use upgrades such as dock reinforcements, according to the German ports federation.

Such unevenness would restrict the freedom of movement of troops in the event of war. The bottlenecks on the military's mobility map are among the plan's most closely guarded secrets.

Peacetime legal shortcomings have also made it harder for Germany to defend itself against sabotage – one of the biggest threats highlighted in the plan.

Even so, the Bundeswehr has given an upbeat assessment of its progress.

"Considering that we started with a blank page in early 2023, we are very happy with where we are today. This is a very sophisticated product," said the officer and co-author of the plan.

However, recent stress tests have shown there is still work to do before the plan and reality line up. The biggest uncertainty facing planners is how much time they have.

Background:

• German Lieutenant General Alexander Sollfrank said earlier that Russia is capable of carrying out a limited attack on NATO territory at any moment.
• Politico reported earlier that European countries have begun to consider what more active response they can give to Russia's hybrid operations.

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