Germany to Form Territorial Defense Division to Protect Critical Infrastructure

Germany is set to establish a new territorial defense division as part of its efforts to enhance national security. The move will involve the creation of six new territorial defense regiments, totaling approximately 6,000 personnel, to bolster the protection of critical infrastructure within the country.

According to reports from DW, the announcement follows Germany’s defense restructuring plan presented by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius in April 2024. The initiative is aimed at strengthening the country’s defense capabilities and includes the expansion of territorial defense forces. As part of this expansion, the new division will bring together both reservists and active military personnel under a unified command.

Currently, Germany’s territorial defense forces consist of four regiments, staffed exclusively by reservists. These regiments are organized by regional commands across various parts of the country. However, the newly planned territorial defense division will integrate six regiments from regions including Bavaria, Berlin, Hesse, Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and North Rhine-Westphalia.

The primary objective of the division will be to protect key national assets such as ports, railways, logistical hubs, pipelines, roads, bridges, transportation networks, and digital infrastructure. In times of peace, the division may also be called upon to assist with emergency response efforts in the event of disasters, terrorist attacks, or pandemics.

The territorial defense forces will report directly to the German Army, which currently comprises three divisions: two armored divisions (1st and 10th) and a rapid reaction division, each consisting of approximately 20,000 personnel. With the addition of the new territorial defense division, the Bundeswehr will have a total of four divisions.

Earlier, classified documents revealed Germany’s preparation plan, “Operation Deutschland,” detailing the country’s readiness for a potential war with Russia. The plan outlines Germany’s role in supporting the deployment of up to 800,000 NATO troops to Ukraine in response to increasing nuclear threats from Russia.

It includes provisions for the protection of critical infrastructure, troop and supply transfers, and business preparedness. Special focus is placed on ensuring companies have crisis-response strategies, with an emphasis on training employees in essential skills. The plan highlights the growing frequency of security incidents and the urgency of Germany’s defense measures.