A classified German planning document detailing how up to 800,000 NATO troops would be moved across Europe in the event of a Russian assault has been disclosed.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the 1,200-page plan—known as Operation Plan Germany (OPLAN DEU)—was prepared by a group of senior military officers based in Berlin.
Why It Matters
The plan marks a shift away from a peacetime mindset toward a renewed “all-of-society” approach to defense. Its authors emphasize that effective deterrence and response would require not just the military, but also civilian sectors, private businesses, and government agencies to work in concert.
This blending of civilian and military responsibilities echoes the broader posture many European states maintained during the Cold War.
What To Know
According to The Wall Street Journal, senior German military officials began developing OPLAN DEU roughly two and a half years ago, soon after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The highly classified document, stored on Germany’s isolated “red network,” serves as a detailed playbook for moving up to 800,000 NATO personnel—including U.S. forces—eastward through Germany if Russia were to mount an offensive.
The plan includes extensive logistical mapping, identifying ports, roadways, rivers, and rail lines that would be critical for transporting troops, vehicles, and equipment. It relies on close coordination between the Bundeswehr and civilian stakeholders, including private companies, local authorities, and key infrastructure operators.
Countering sabotage, cyberattacks, and disinformation campaigns is built into the plan as a core requirement, reflecting concerns that any future conflict would also be waged in the digital and information domains.
A major weak point is Germany’s aging transport network. Government data show that around 20 percent of highways and more than a quarter of highway bridges require urgent repair. Many of these structures are currently unable to bear the weight of heavy military vehicles, a shortcoming German planners concede must be addressed quickly if OPLAN DEU is to function as intended.
What People Are Saying
A senior military officer involved from the early stages of OPLAN DEU told The Wall Street Journal: “The goal is to prevent war by making it clear to our enemies that if they attack us, they won’t be successful.”
German Deputy Defense Minister Nils Schmid said: “We must relearn what we unlearnt. We have to drag people back from retirement to tell us how we did it back then.”
In September, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned: “The threats are real. We’re not at war, but we no longer live in peacetime.”
What Happens Next
OPLAN DEU is being continually updated as stress tests expose new vulnerabilities and practical hurdles. German authorities intend to invest billions of euros in infrastructure improvements so that roads, bridges, and rail networks can support the rapid movement of large-scale NATO forces if the plan ever has to be put into action.
