Germany Preparing Plan to Deploy 800,000 NATO Troops to Eastern Europe

In Berlin, more than two years ago, a group of high-ranking Bundeswehr officers began working on a secret document – Operation Plan Germany (OPLAN DEU).

According to The Wall Street Journal, this is a large-scale 1200-page strategy that envisages the deployment of up to 800,000 NATO troops to the east in the event of a war with Russia.

The plan details routes through ports, rivers, railroads, and highways, as well as a system for supplying and protecting military convoys.

According to German officials, Russia could be ready to attack NATO as early as 2029. At the same time, a series of espionage incidents, sabotage, and airspace violations indicate that Moscow may act sooner.

Western experts suggest that a possible ceasefire in Ukraine will only strengthen Russia’s ability to prepare new offensive steps.

In the fall, Rheinmetall conducted a large-scale training exercise in East Germany, building a camp for 500 soldiers in two weeks.

However, the test revealed problems: a lack of space for equipment, torn areas of the territory, and the need for additional infrastructure. Such lessons are constantly being incorporated into the updated version of OPLAN.

Worn-out infrastructure remains one of the main obstacles. According to the government, 20% of highways and more than a quarter of bridges need repair. The ports of the North and Baltic Seas require €15 billion in investment, of which €3 billion is for military modernization.

Recent bridge accidents that blocked the supply of ammunition to Ukraine have highlighted the vulnerability of transportation hubs.

Following Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s announcement of an “epochal change” in 2022, Germany established a Territorial Command to coordinate actions in the rear.

The plan involves not only the army, but also the private sector, hospitals, police, and civilian services. This is a return to the concept of “whole of society for defense”, been used from the Cold War.

In September 2025, the Red Storm Bravo exercise took place in Hamburg: 500 NATO troops practiced landing in a port and moving a 65-vehicle convoy through the city. The scenario included drone attacks, protests, and infrastructure blockades. Despite the difficulties, such rehearsals allow us to test the country’s readiness for the worst-case scenario.