At a time when Europe is holding its breath amid escalating tensions on its eastern flank, Germany—which has traditionally advocated for dialogue—is being forced to rethink its role. According to an exclusive investigation by The Wall Street Journal published on November 26, 2025, the German military has developed a large-scale secret plan to prepare for a possible war with Russia. This 1,200-page document, known as OPLAN DEU, reveals not only NATO’s logistical ambitions but also the deep systemic problems of “peaceful” Germany that have accumulated over the decades since the Cold War.
Logistics on the Brink of Chaos: 800,000 Soldiers on Crowded Highways
The plan, drafted by a group of 12 senior officers starting in 2023, focuses on the rapid deployment of up to 800,000 NATO troops—including German, American, and allied forces—to the alliance’s eastern front. This is not merely a military operation: the document details routes by land, river, sea, and rail; plans for supplying fuel, ammunition, food, and medical supplies; as well as measures to protect convoys from sabotage. Germany is positioned as a key hub: streams of equipment and personnel will flow through its territory, turning the country into a giant “bridge” to the Baltic states and Poland.
However, exercises conducted in recent months have revealed critical vulnerabilities. Highways, bridges, and tunnels built during peacetime have proven unsuitable for large-scale military logistics: narrow lanes cause traffic jams, and recent accidents involving cargo ships (such as in 2024) highlight the risks. A simulation in Hamburg in September 2025, in which “activists” blocked roads, showed that the police are not prepared to respond quickly, and the infrastructure is not ready for total mobilization.
Bureaucracy and Apathy: When Peacetime Life Hinders National Defense
The WSJ emphasizes that bureaucracy is the main obstacle. Strict EU regulations and national laws are slowing down arms procurement and infrastructure upgrades. For example, to prevent traffic jams caused by military convoys, urgent changes to traffic lights and routes are needed—but even this gets bogged down in red tape. “Weapons or troop numbers alone will not determine the outcome of the conflict,” the publication notes, implying that logistics and coordination will be decisive.
The problem with society is even more acute. Germany has lost its “military spirit”: polls show that only 40% of young people aged 16–29 are willing to defend their country. In November 2025, the coalition approved a partial reform of the draft — Mandatory medical examinations for men over 18 and a lottery for volunteers in the event of a manpower shortage (service remains optional). Deputy Defense Minister Nils Schmidt told the WSJ outright: “All residents of Germany will have to relearn the skills lost over a generation of peaceful life.” This is a call for total defense: from civil defense to the retraining of the population.
What's next for Europe?
The secret plan is a cause for alarm not only for Berlin, but for NATO as a whole. While Russia is strengthening its positions in the east, Germany is trying to make up for lost ground, but bureaucracy, apathy, and outdated infrastructure are turning the ambitious OPLAN DEU into a race against itself. The question is, will there be enough time for a “reset”—or will the “peace generation” prove too fragile in the face of reality?
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