The streets of a residential neighborhood in Hamburg turned into the scene of an unusual military operation at midnight, where the sound of helicopters was accompanied by the movement of columns of armored vehicles and armed Bundeswehr soldiers.
The action was part of the “Red Storm Charlie” exercise, the largest of its kind ever held in Germany, involving around 1,700 people, including 500 soldiers, as well as police forces and civil organizations. The scenario, which ran from September 24 to 26, simulated the landing of NATO troops in the port of Hamburg and their movement eastward in the face of a possible escalation on the alliance’s eastern flank, while also dealing with simulated sabotage and protests.
The exercise is a key element of the “Operationsplan Deutschland”, the confidential operational plan with which Germany prepares for its role as NATO’s main logistics hub in the event of a conflict in Europe. According to estimates cited by Deutsche Welle, the German territory should facilitate the passage of around 800,000 soldiers and 200,000 vehicles over a six-month period, as well as the evacuation of the wounded.
Germany has updated its plan after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, while Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has warned of an increase in hybrid threats, cyberattacks and sabotage of critical infrastructure. In addition to cooperation with the civilian sector, authorities also face the challenge of aging road infrastructure and bridges that have to bear the weight of heavy military equipment.