The request, included in a recently published government paper titled “Concept for Civil Defense”, came after a series of deadly attacks that were believed to have links with extremist groups struck the country.
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One section deals with “the quick and safe delivery of messages with special importance to the German army (for example decisions concerning the reintroduction of conscription)”, according to Spiegel magazine.
Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen said earlier this month that the Bundeswehr would undergo training with federal police in preparation for deployment in domestic counterterrorism operations.
Germany abandoned compulsory national service in 2011, however conscription is authorised in the German constitution and could be reintroduced easily, Die Zeit reports.
The German government is expected to require that citizens stockpile on food and water supplies in case of an attack or catastrophe, German media reported on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Deutsche Welle (DW), Germany’s global broadcaster, reported that the civil defence strategy was originally commission by a parliamentary committee in 2012, but its release comes amid a raft of new security measures in the country. The defence ministry is looking at training the military to respond to major terror assaults, while de Maiziere announced tough new anti-terror measures including a controversial proposal to strip jihadist fighters of their German nationality.
The German news website Frankfurter Allgemeine (FAZ) said the new concept is set out in a 69-page German Interior Ministry document.
But he warned against mixing up possible military or terrorist scenarios and said, “I can’t see any attack scenario that merits a stockpiling of supplies by the population”.
The newspaper said that people will be required to stockpile drinking water to last for five days according to the plan.
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This article first appeared on RT.
