Germany prepares healthcare system for potential war scenarios

German authorities are preparing the national healthcare system for extreme scenarios, including potential armed conflict in Europe. These preparations involve planning for mass casualties, drone attacks, and disruptions to energy and communication networks.

In response to these threats, officials are considering the reactivation of Cold War-era bunkers. For instance, a hospital in Ulm maintains a bunker built in 1979 designed to treat wounded soldiers during a nuclear attack; it can accommodate up to 2,000 people for 90 days. Because Germany's five military hospitals would be insufficient for a large-scale conflict, civilian hospitals would be required to play a significantly larger role in treating casualties.