A Stockpile of Ravioli as a Symbol of Germany’s New Defense Policy

Germany is preparing for a war it hopes never to fight. Confronted with Russian aggression, the government has set a goal of making the country kriegstüchtig—"ready for war"—by 2029, the year officials believe Moscow could be capable of striking a NATO member.

The first step was loosening fiscal rules, clearing the way for higher military spending. In parallel, arms production is being ramped up and a recruitment campaign is under way, likely to reintroduce elements of mandatory service.

An unexpected twist came from Agriculture Minister Alois Rainer, who proposed revising the system of state reserves to include ready-made meals—such as canned ravioli or lentils. "We are living in conditions that force all of us to think," he said on Politico’s Berlin Playbook podcast. "For me, it is important that alongside military supplies, food security also plays a key role."

For decades, reserves consisted mainly of grain or dried lentils. The minister argues that in a crisis, cooking such staples is too time-consuming. His proposal, estimated at $105 million, would see major retail chains take responsibility for storage and logistics.

"This is also about protecting the population," noted Florian Weber. "The experience of the war in Ukraine shows that military capabilities are paramount, but it is equally vital for the state to demonstrate that civil protection systems are ready to provide basic services."

The initiative has drawn both praise and criticism: skeptics point to the limited shelf life of canned food, as well as the costs and logistical challenges of regularly replenishing the reserves.

The national reserve system has existed since the 1960s but long remained in the background. When Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière in 2016 urged citizens to keep stocks of food and water at home, he was mocked for "survivalist paranoia." Newspapers at the time wrote about "hamster Germans." The pandemic changed perceptions: today, official guidelines recommend storing food for at least three days, ideally ten, along with medicines, candles, a radio, and other essentials.

While Germany debates adding canned ravioli to its reserves, neighbors are setting their own priorities. In Switzerland, the government in 2019 tried to abolish the mandatory coffee stockpile but dropped the idea after public outcry. In Norway, people are advised to keep iodine tablets in case of a nuclear accident and board games for time spent in shelters.

Food, however, is only part of the challenge. This summer, the head of Germany’s civil protection agency warned of the urgent need to expand the shelter network. Of 2,000 Cold War bunkers, only 579 remain, with space for 478,000 people—just 0.5% of the population. Finland, by contrast, has around 50,000 shelters covering 85% of residents.

"For a long time in Germany, the belief was that war was a scenario we did not need to prepare for," said Ralph Tiesler, head of the Federal Office for Civil Protection, in an interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung. "That has now changed."

Rainer stresses that the issue is not only the military threat but also the risks of natural disasters or nuclear accidents. Yet it is the prospect of a Russian attack that shapes the mood today.

The idea of a national "ravioli reserve" has inspired wry headlines in the German press. Yet behind the humor lies a deeper anxiety about Europe’s security. Germany, which pursued a pacifist course for eight decades after the Second World War, is rethinking long-held assumptions—from military doctrine to civil defense—in the face of war threats and doubts about America’s willingness to defend Europe.

"Our mindset has changed. When we talk about defense capability, it is no longer only about the army," notes Florian Weber, head of operations at the Federal Agency for Technical Relief.

According to The Washington Post, Tiesler’s agency plans to convert metro stations, basements, and underground garages into bomb shelters. A digital shelter catalog is also being developed in the form of an app.

Authorities are urging citizens to prepare on their own. "Stockpile food and essential items for at least 10 days if possible," Tiesler told Süddeutsche Zeitung. "Even a reserve lasting a minimum of 72 hours would already be a significant help."