It's an unusual sight on a German street: heavily armed soldiers in combat gear, positioned at intersections and town entrances behind barriers made of sandbags. There is also a hill on which a position with a massive automatic grenade weapon has been set up. Clearly visible from cars traveling between Stendal and the Insel district.
"This is not an everyday occurrence at all," says Corporal Benny P., one of the reservists from the Homeland Security Division who are practicing for three days here in northern Saxony-Anhalt. "People look at us a little funny."
For the first time, the Homeland Security Division is practicing in public spaces - not hidden in barracks and military training areas, but right in the middle of people's everyday lives. The reservists' mission: protect the nearby A14 bridge, prevent spying attempts and sabotage.
Defense-critical infrastructure
"Our assumption is that this is a main march corridor through which NATO forces march," explains Major Tom T., who designed the exercise. Soldiers from other units act as opponents and try to spy on the bridge and positions. In reality, the bridge at the end of the motorway is far away from military routes, but in the scenario it is an important traffic junction on the route from Western Europe towards the Baltics.
The exercise takes place in peacetime, but the Bundestag has identified a fall of tension, the preliminary stage of a case of defense. This means that special laws apply, which also give the Bundeswehr special powers within the country. There would be countless defense-important infrastructure like this motorway bridge in the event of a tension or defense. The exact locations are secret.
Homeland Security Division should grow
The Homeland Security Division has only existed for a year and a half. It currently consists of around 5,000 soldiers. Only 500 of them are active, all the others are reservists. This means that they have civilian jobs and reinforce the Bundeswehr for a certain period of time, often several weeks a year.
“Protecting Germany in Germany” is the mission of the homeland protectors. This includes securing critical infrastructure as well as supporting our own and allied armed forces in transport through Germany, as well as drone defense and disaster relief. The division is expected to grow significantly in the coming years for these tasks - mainly with reservists.
“I think Germany is worth protecting”
Reservist Benny P. works in civilian life as an IT specialist in a local government in Schleswig-Holstein. When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, he asked himself the question: "What if it were here with us, what would I personally do?" His path then was to join the armed forces. “Because I think Germany is worth protecting,” says the 31-year-old.
“Homeland Security is a good opportunity to get involved,” says his comrade Christian S., actually an office worker in a mechanical engineering company. The exercise makes the threat situation a little more aware, says the 46-year-old corporal. "We would all be happy if it weren't like that. In the end, soldiers would always be the first to end up in danger."
Abolition of “double voluntariness”
By 2033, the Bundeswehr reserve is expected to grow to 200,000 reservists. To ensure that this is successful, the federal government passed the Reserve Strengthening Act at the beginning of July. It is scheduled to go to the Bundestag in October.
The core of the law is the abolition of the so-called double voluntariness. Previously, both the reservists themselves and their employer had to agree so that they could be used for exercises or other services. The law should now enable mandatory use.
Criticism of this comes from business. The German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) warns of shortages of skilled workers. “The Bundeswehr should announce enlistments at least three months before reserve service,” demands DIHK department head Rainer Kambeck. The desire is for employers to be able to plan more.
Practice should create borderline experiences
There is no planning around the motorway bridge south of Stendal. The homeland security guards don't know what to expect. Suddenly a drone sighting triggers an alarm; a suspicious vehicle is parked on a dirt road. A small group of reservists rush to the vehicle and arrest the four drone pilots. One of them defends himself and pulls out a gun, shots are fired.
Major T. and his team observe the reservists' actions. After the exercise, he evaluates what happened with them: What happened? What went well? What could be better?
The aim of the exercise is to create borderline experiences so that the reservists are prepared in an emergency. And: “We as the Bundeswehr should be more present again,” says the 36-year-old. "We're simply citizens in uniform. And I think it's a good chance to show that we're doing a good job."
