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Germany Prepares to Treat 1,000 Wounded Troops Daily in Case of NATO–Russia War
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Germany’s armed forces are preparing for the possibility of treating up to 1,000 wounded soldiers per day in the event of a large-scale war between NATO and Russia, amid persistent warnings that Moscow could be capable of launching an attack as early as 2029.
Surgeon General Ralf Hoffmann told Reuters on September 22 that the number of casualties in such a war would depend on the intensity of fighting and the units involved.
“Realistically, we are talking about a figure of around 1,000 wounded troops per day,” he said.
European militaries have been strengthening their combat readiness—including medical services—since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Europe’s largest war since World War II. Germany has also been adapting its military medical training based on lessons learned from the battlefield in Ukraine.
“The nature of warfare has changed dramatically in Ukraine,” Hoffmann noted, pointing to the prevalence of blast wounds and burns caused by drones and loitering munitions, which have replaced traditional gunshot injuries. Ukrainian troops describe a drone-heavy corridor stretching 10 kilometers on either side of the frontline as the “kill zone,” where UAVs quickly detect and strike targets.
“The Ukrainians often cannot evacuate their wounded fast enough because drones are buzzing overhead everywhere,” Hoffmann said. This reality, he stressed, underscores the importance of stabilizing casualties for prolonged periods at the frontline before evacuation.
According to Reuters, Germany is examining flexible transport options, drawing inspiration from Ukraine’s use of hospital trains. Hoffmann said the Bundeswehr is considering hospital trains and buses, alongside expanding air evacuation capabilities. Wounded soldiers would first receive frontline stabilization before being transported to Germany, where the majority would be treated in civilian hospitals.
Hoffmann estimated that around 15,000 hospital beds would be needed from Germany’s total civilian hospital capacity of 440,000. To meet future demands, the Bundeswehr’s 15,000-strong medical service would also be expanded.
Earlier, German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil announced a major boost in defense spending, pointing to recent Russian violations of NATO airspace as the key reason behind the decision.
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