Southern Hesse in a blue light frenzy: large-scale exercise AXIS 25 inspires 350 helpers!

Southern Hesse in a blue light frenzy: large-scale exercise AXIS 25 inspires 350 helpers!

An impressive large-scale exercise called AXIS 25 took place in the southern Hesse region today, November 2, 2025. Around 140 rescue and civil protection vehicles were on the roads to improve cooperation and coordination between various relief services. Loud hessenschau.de Around 350 emergency services from the Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe (JUH), the German Red Cross (DRK), the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB), the Malteser Relief Service (MHD) and the Technical Relief Organization (THW) were at the start.

The exercise began in Babenhausen in the Darmstadt-Dieburg district and went through several districts, including Groß-Gerau, Bergstrasse and Odenwaldkreis, to the city of Darmstadt. Given the large number of vehicles used, from cars to large 40-ton trucks, the logistical planning and publication of the exercise was an immense challenge that was clearly visible on the streets.

Function and safety in focus

The main objectives of exercise AXIS 25 include driving in a closed formation and precise coordination between the various aid organizations. The convoy of vehicles, which started at 10 a.m. in groups of 15 to 30 vehicles and traveled with the blue lights on but without the siren, illustrates the great importance of safety precautions. Road users were asked not to overtake the convoy or push between the vehicles in order to ensure that everything runs smoothly.

It is particularly worth mentioning that the vehicles for this large-scale exercise were marked with a blue flag on the driver's side, while the final vehicle was marked with a green flag. The return to Babenhausen was planned for around 6 p.m., which meant that the entire exercise was intended to help optimize communication and the relocation of large vehicle formations.

A unique event

AXIS 25 is a unique exercise in southern Hesse that aims to improve emergency preparedness in crisis situations. The exercise is an important part of the national crisis management, which has provided for regular reviews since 2002. LÜKEX exercises, such as those carried out in the Free State of Saxony, are a good example of such measures to optimize cooperation between all those involved and strengthen resilience against crises. Those interested can find further information about crisis management and disaster protection on the website Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief.

All in all, the AXIS 25 was a successful example of cooperation between various aid services. At a time when crisis management is becoming increasingly important, one must not lose sight of the services and preparations of the emergency services.