"Railway Chaos" in Germany: NATO's important gap in defense during the war with the Russian Federation (photo)

To spread: Railway problems in Germany can weaken NATO military power and play an evil joke with Europe with the invasion of Russia's army. The German tabloid Bild writes about the important nuance in defense of the European Union. Problems on the German railway are not only a headache for passengers, but also a potential threat to European security. The German National Security Strategy by 2023 defines the role of Germany as a NATO logistics center.

"Germany should become a major logistics node to transfer NATO troops in the event of a great war," the authors report. It is in Germany that heavy military equipment from the United States and the United Kingdom will be sent by rail. The reliability of such a complex process of transportation is increasingly questioned. The main role in rail transportation in the event of a military conflict will be given to DB Cargo, a subsidiary of the main railway operator Deutsche Bahn.

However, the company is experiencing a deep crisis: in 2024 it suffered 350 million euros of losses and will reduce about 5,000 employees. The DB Cargo Head of Nikutta at the Munich Security Conference in February emphasized the importance of railways in the country's defense. She called for a separate European network for army needs. "They do not win the logistics of war, but without it they will lose exactly," Nikutta said.

According to the US Army Exgenerator, Ben Hodges, DB Cargo capacity is less than a quarter of the tank crews needed for simultaneously switching. The Bundesver stated that they rely exclusively on civilian logistics firms. In maritime and air transportation of heavy equipment, this figure is 100%, reports Handelsblatt. In addition, the Bundesver is negotiating with the Lufthansa flight school to take on the basic preparation of fighter pilots.