"This is the worst-case scenario"

Funke emphasized that logistics would be one of the main challenges in the worst-case scenario. Tens of thousands of allied troops would need to be moved to the contact lines under conditions in which major road and rail routes could be damaged by Russian sabotage, cyberattacks, or missile strikes.

“It is important for us to maintain Germany as a logistics hub and to manage supply lines as smoothly as possible for as long as possible, which means that if one route fails, we will have the ability to use others instead,” he said.

Another potential problem is the large number of casualties. The Bundeswehr operates five hospitals with a total of 1,800 beds, which could quickly become overwhelmed. To prepare, the Joint Support Command and the Federal Ministry of Health have divided the network of civilian hospitals into four sectors that can be reserved for the wounded in a crisis.

“While in Afghanistan I unfortunately dealt with a high but manageable number of casualties, I now have to plan for the possibility of a thousand injured per day. The more closely you look at it, the more complex it becomes and the harder it is to imagine,” he said.

Funke’s command, created after last year’s major reorganization of the German armed forces, is developing a modern version of the Cold War–era system for requisitioning trucks, railcars, supplies, and personnel on a mass scale.

The general has also initiated “standby agreements” with Germany’s Deutsche Bahn, the national rail operator, ensuring that trains for military transport can be deployed within three days of notification.

Funke MARTIN SCHUTT / AFP / Profimedia

Another challenge, according to Funke, is Germany’s legal framework. Certain military measures can be activated only if two-thirds of parliament approve a declaration of a “state of tension” or a “state of national defense.” Funke warned that this could be complicated given that more than one-third of parliamentary seats are held by radical left-wing parties and pro-Russian parties aligned with the far right.

Analysts have noted that Germany could take too long to transition from peacetime to a crisis footing. Funke added that the strict separation between peace and war is an outdated legacy of the 20th century, now being called into question by the scale of modern hybrid warfare.

In December 2025, the upper house of the German parliament, the Bundesrat, followed the Bundestag in adopting legislation to modernize military service.

Earlier, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said he expects the Bundeswehr to recruit 20,000 volunteers this year as part of the reform.

In January, the Bundeswehr began sending questionnaires to 18-year-olds as part of the selection process for military service.