Overview

• In response to a parliamentary question, the federal government admitted it cannot quantify how many civil defense volunteers would be ready in a crisis scenario.
• The Interior Ministry confirmed there is no legal basis to record dual memberships among volunteers serving simultaneously in the Bundeswehr, police or other federal agencies.
• Officials warn that those volunteers who are also soldiers or police officers could be reassigned to defense duties and leave essential civil protection tasks understaffed.
• The split oversight—where states handle disaster response and the federal government manages civil defense—has created coordination and data-sharing challenges.
• Aid organizations and lawmakers are calling for comprehensive legal, structural and funding reforms to improve data transparency and strengthen crisis preparedness.