Germany, acting as a logistical hub, plays a crucial role in troop movements within and through Europe. The transportation of troops and materials requires meticulous planning and coordination to ensure the deployment of operational forces in the target area. The planning processes involved in these operations were the focus of the Standhafter Bär exercise.
The exercise aimed to simulate the planning and coordination of rapid troop deployments through Germany in the event of a NATO collective defense scenario. It emphasized the reception and onward movement of transatlantic reinforcement forces, as well as the concept of host nation support, encompassing the assistance, accompaniment, and provision of supplies to allied forces. The ability to swiftly deploy both domestic and transatlantic reinforcement forces, fully equipped and ready to counter an aggressor, is essential for credible deterrence and effective defense.
To address the challenges of complex multinational troop movements, concepts and process workflows were developed, and various challenges and solutions were identified. Led by the Territorial Command of the Bundeswehr, the exercise involved collaboration between commanders from the 16 state commands of the Bundeswehr and experts from the police, fire departments, and interior ministries of the federal states. Given the diverse tasks and challenges associated with large-scale troop deployments, cross-sectoral and interagency cooperation was crucial for success.
Germany as a Hub: Swift Reception and Seamless Transit
Due to its geographical location in the heart of Europe, Germany assumes a key role as a logistical hub for NATO partner reinforcement forces. In the event of a collective defense scenario, soldiers from various nations, along with their personal equipment, vehicles, gear, ammunition, and supplies, must arrive via sea, land, and air routes.
Once on German territory, personnel and material need to be promptly consolidated and transported to a central assembly point for onward movement. Each team must receive their designated combat vehicle and equipment precisely, without the need for extensive sorting and searching. This process, involving thousands of soldiers and tens of thousands of containers and tons of material, requires meticulous planning and coordination. Even a minor delay can have far-reaching implications for all forces involved, jeopardizing the goal of rapidly deploying arriving troops. The state commands play a pivotal role in this planning process, acting as the hub where military and civilian planning processes converge.
Host Nation Support: Utilizing Civilian Infrastructure
The exercise also addressed the concept of host nation support. Whenever foreign forces transit through the Federal Republic, they require multifaceted support beyond logistics. The exercise participants planned possible routes for the transit of partner forces, considering factors such as optimal route selection to avoid construction sites or accommodate bridge weight limits. Additionally, accommodations, meals, and medical support along the route must be arranged. Furthermore, fueling and repair facilities need to be factored in since military convoys cannot simply pause at any rest stop, even if it is spacious enough. Access to military bases or training areas is also limited.
Therefore, the participants explored suitable civilian infrastructure, such as factory sites, warehouses, or large parking lots, to establish supply points for foreign troops during their march through Germany. The exercise involved calculating the required personnel and material resources, as well as planning alternate routes and points in case a route becomes impassable due to weather conditions or sabotage.
More Than a Simulation: Practical Testing in 2024
The Standhafter Bär 23 exercise went beyond a theoretical planning exercise. It served as direct preparation for two major exercises scheduled for 2024: Steadfast Defender, a large-scale movement of U.S. forces to and through Europe, and Quadriga 24, a multinational exercise cluster involving tens of thousands of Bundeswehr soldiers. The planning processes and workflows developed during Standhafter Bär 23, which will be further refined in the coming months, will be put to the test during these exercises. Any remaining capability gaps can be promptly identified and addressed.