Europe prepares citizens for war - will they hear?

Europe prepares citizens for war - will they hear?

survival guidelines, storage formation and large-scale evacuation exercises. Europe endeavors to prepare its citizens for the growing conflict risks at their own front door. In the past few months, several European nations have published sobering guidelines that range from the conversion of garages and subway stations in bunker to the promotion of psychological resilience.

change in the way of thinking of the population

A central message is that a rethink among the population is necessary to become ready for war. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized in front of security experts in Brussels in December: "It is time for a change to a way of thinking as in times of war." This statement takes place in a context in which European leaders fear that Russian President Vladimir Putin, encouraged by success in Ukraine, could try to penetrate further into the continent. At the same time, the decades and powerful alliance with the United States is taking an increasingly enemy attitude towards the preservation of European security, which raises doubts about the willingness to intervene in the event of an invasion of a NATO country.

preparations in Europe

The European Commission has asked all citizens to collect enough food and other important supplies in order to supply them in a crisis situation for at least 72 hours. In the guidelines published in March, it was emphasized that Europe had to promote a culture of "preparation" and "resilience". On an individual level, different countries have also published their own instructions for emergencies, including war.

In June last year, Germany updated its framework directive for overall defense. It describes what to do in the event of a conflict in Europe and the document outlines a complete transformation of everyday life for German citizens in the event of war. Sweden published a survival guide in November, entitled "When crisis or war comes", which was first updated after six years. This brochure was distributed to millions of households and gives instructions on how to warn in the event of war.

protective measures and advice

The guidelines inform the Swedes about the warning systems in the event of war, including one in most areas of operational outdoor system. The instruction reads: "Go into the house, connect all windows and doors and switch off if possible. It also offers advice on safe places during an air raid, such as basement, garages and subway stations. The document advises to make yourself flat outdoors without immediate protection, "preferably in a small pit or a ditch." For Sweden there are specific information on attacks with nuclear weapons, including the advice, "to get to safety like during an air raid. Civil protection accommodation offer the best protection."

for Finland, which has a 1,340 km long border with Russia, is the defense of his sovereignty against Moscow part of national consciousness. The country has prepared for decades for the possibility of a conflict with Russia, and since the 1950s the construction of bomb protection rooms under residential and office buildings has been prescribed.

will the population react?

The updated civilian protection guidelines, however, have no guarantee of how seriously they are observed by the citizens. Claudia Major, Senior Vice President for Transatlantic Security at German Marshall Fund, appeals to the seriousness of the instructions. She emphasizes the need not only to prepare for a direct military threat from Russia, but also on what she describes as a "gray area" between war and peace - including more aggressive actions and hybrid warfare.

The challenges of relevance

Major points out that it is much more tangible for some countries, especially for those in the area of influence Moscow, while it is more difficult to understand for others. It calls Finland and the Baltic States, where the threat of Russia is deeply rooted in the national DNA.

"The existential threat to be overrun and disappear from the card sheet is very real in the Baltic States. They wonder why other countries don't understand it," says Major. The Finns took the defense seriously throughout the Cold War. "Why are we all looking at Finland and look at your bunker system and your medical supplies? You have learned from history; nobody will help us. We have to do it ourselves."

The importance of preparation

The effectiveness of such civilian protection plans remains unclear. In the past, they were even smiled at. During the time of the Cold War, the British government published official information to protect its citizens against the nuclear threat from the Soviet Union. The best -known information campaign was called "Protect and Survive", which was produced between 1974 and 1980. This series provided information about the dangers of radioactive precipitation and instructions for survival for a nuclear attack.

Major underlines how important it is to prepare the civilian population for external threats - especially in the gray area. "We have to think about deterrence, defense and resilience. This means in particular a greater willingness of society. If society is not willing to support a war like the Ukrainian society at the moment."