Large-scale exercise in Frankfurt: Strengthen civil protection against hybrid threats!

Large-scale exercise in Frankfurt: Strengthen civil protection against hybrid threats!

A large-scale civil protection exercise will start in Frankfurt on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. This exercise is intended not only to contribute to the security of citizens, but also to prepare for hybrid threats such as cyberattacks and sabotage. Those involved include the fire brigade, rescue workers and numerous municipal departments, which will be active until next week. On Friday, June 27th, there will be a real exercise in which a hospital with emergency services and extras will be involved in order to create conditions that are as realistic as possible. [n-tv] reports that the goal is to identify potential for optimization and to sensitize citizens to the topics of crisis prevention and emergency management.

Given the current geopolitical situation, such exercises seem more urgent than ever. The threats from hybrid measures are increasing not only quantitatively, but also qualitatively. According to [bbk.bund.de], actors such as Russia, China, North Korea and Iran are increasingly devoting themselves to hybrid strategies to assert their interests. Russia in particular has converted its economy to a war economy and is propagating ideological content that aims to destabilize societies in Europe. The developments make it clear that it is essential to inform the population and take concrete protective measures.

Raising public awareness

The exercise in Frankfurt raises awareness of the importance of crisis prevention in the private sector. Citizens are encouraged to stock up on emergency supplies, including drinking water, non-perishable food for around ten days, hygiene products and a battery-operated radio. All of these things are of great importance in the event of a crisis scenario in order to protect yourself and your family as best as possible.

The new coalition agreement between the governing parties CDU, CSU and SPD encourages a “pact for civil protection”. This is done within the framework of the Operational Plan for Germany (OPLAN), which aims to strengthen the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) and the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief (BBK). Specialists from various organizations such as DRK, Malteser and Johanniter are also calling for a fundamental improvement in civil and disaster protection. [sachgebiet5.de] emphasizes that the uniform regulation of disaster protection laws is particularly important here, as there are currently 16 different laws that make implementation more difficult.

The role of municipalities

A central concern remains the role of municipalities in crisis management, which is only inadequately addressed in the new coalition agreement, although its importance in crisis situations is enormous. Experts are therefore calling for municipal crisis preparedness to be financially secure and for binding standards to be created for staff work. Supportive measures such as the expansion of digital infrastructure and early warning systems for fake news are also required to increase society's resilience in the face of crises.

The integration of critical infrastructures into civil protection plays an essential role, as they ensure basic supplies for the population in an emergency. The current challenges, compounded by climate change, require urgent action and clear strategies to address future crises.