• The German government urges citizens to stockpile emergency supplies (food, water, medical kits) for 72+ hours and calls for civil defense training in schools amid heightened NATO-Russia tensions.
• Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark have taken the lead in crisis preparedness. Sweden’s updated 32-page war-preparedness pamphlet, distributed to 5 million households, covers survival strategies, evacuation plans and community resilience.
• The Swedish and Finnish guides emphasize stockpiling essentials, first aid, power outage readiness and childcare during emergencies. Finland also highlights accessible bomb shelters, including a Helsinki facility for 6,000 people.
• Nordic advisories encourage citizens to join defense initiatives, donate blood and learn CPR. Sweden’s digital preparedness manual has been downloaded 55,000+ times since October.
• Policies once criticized (e.g., Germany’s past condemnation of “prepper” movements) are now adopted nationally, reflecting growing urgency over potential conflict and institutional failures in crisis management.

Germany’s Interior Ministry has called for civil defense training in schools and urged citizens to stockpile food, water and emergency supplies amid escalating fears of World War III.

In a recent assessment conducted by Red Cross officials, most of the population of Germany would be defenseless in a major conflict, with civil protection systems severely underfunded and outdated. Last month, estimates suggested Germany needs €30 billion ($33 billion) to meet minimum wartime readiness standards.

As a response, the German Interior Ministry urged schools to train children due to the growing military tensions between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Russia, as well as warnings from intelligence agencies that Moscow could be prepared to attack NATO territory within years. (Related: German government urges citizens to start stockpiling supplies in preparation for grid down scenario or even nuclear war.)

A ministry spokesperson stated that civil protection “should be given greater focus, including in schools,” given recent escalations between NATO and Russia, including heightened military mobilizations. The government may provide crisis training materials through the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK), despite education typically being a state-level decision.

The Interior Ministry also endorsed an EU Commission directive on crisis readiness, urging Germans to maintain emergency supplies for at least 72 hours. The recommended “resilience kit” includes bottled water, non-perishable food (energy bars, canned goods), flashlights and batteries, first aid supplies, a waterproof pouch with ID documents and matches or lighters.

Nordic countries preparing for potential modern threats

The move follows other Nordic countries’ proactive steps to prepare their populations for modern threats. For instance, on Nov. 18, the Swedish government started distributing its updated emergency preparedness pamphlets titled “Om krisen eller kriget kommer” (If Crisis or War Comes) to its five million households.

The 32-page booklet, first introduced during World War II, offers practical advice on preparing for wartime scenarios, disease outbreaks, extreme weather and other emergencies. A digital version, released in October, has already been downloaded 55,000 times.

The updated manual provides practical survival guidance, including stockpiling essentials, emergency evacuation plans, first aid instructions, gardening advice, community support, child preparedness and educating children about war and emergencies. It also encourages community-based resilience, urging citizens to join volunteer defense initiatives, donate blood and learn survival skills like CPR and emergency communication techniques.

Finland, Norway and Denmark have also done the same. Finland released a digital crisis guide titled “Preparing for Incidents and Crisis,” advising citizens to stockpile supplies and cash, prepare for power outages and engage in stress-relieving activities (reading, crafts). The given guide also mentions available civilian bomb shelters, including a Helsinki shelter capable of housing 6,000 people, with sports courts, play areas and a food court. Meanwhile, Norway and Denmark issued updated wartime guidance earlier in 2024, which focused on food, water and fuel storage, and evacuation routes.

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Watch the video below as two top Swedish defense officials warn citizens to prepare for war.

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Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

Slaynews.com

BBC.com