War, Air-Raid Alerts & State of Defence

Warning signals — what they mean

Siren signals and warning channels differ from country to country. The signals that apply to you are published by the official civil-protection authority of your country (see the region box). Example Germany:

In Germany there is no separate air-raid signal — the warning signal applies to all dangers. What is happening is announced on the radio (e.g. the regional public broadcasters, Deutschlandfunk), by cell broadcast and in warning apps such as NINA.

The air situation monitor in this package (LAGE.html, guide 24) shows official air-raid warnings only for countries that publish them openly (e.g. Germany, Switzerland); otherwise it shows "Not available in your region". In an emergency, always rely on sirens, cell broadcast and the official warning app.

Air-raid alert / missile or drone attack — action card

1. Go into the nearest solid building immediately. Do not stay in the street, do not film.
2. Indoors: go to the cellar/basement — otherwise to an inner room without windows (hallway, bathroom). Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside.
3. Keep away from windows and glass (splinters are the most common injury).
4. Outdoors without a building: lie flat on the ground, in a hollow/ditch, protect your head and neck with your arms.
5. In a car: stop, get out, take cover (underpass, ditch) — do not stay in a tunnel if there is smoke.
6. Pets on the lead or in a carrier and into the shelter with you. Bring people who need help (older people, children, people with disabilities) to safety first.
7. Stay inside until the all-clear (all-clear signal or announcement). After impacts: expect further impacts, do not go out to look.
8. Afterwards: check for smell of gas/fire, treat the injured (guide 01), call the emergency number only in a real emergency (network overloaded).

Public shelters exist to very different extents depending on the country (in Germany, for example, hardly any remain). Authorities sometimes plan places of refuge (underground car parks, underground stations, solid cellars) — ask your municipality/town what is planned and write it down below.

Preparing your own shelter (cellar or inner room)

• Water (3 days), food that needs no cooking, torch + batteries, wind-up radio
• Blankets/sleeping bags, seating for older people or people with limited mobility
• First-aid bag, medication, bucket with lid + bin bags (emergency toilet)
• Power bank, phone list on paper, document folder
• For pets: bowl, water, food, lead/carrier (a muzzle for dogs if needed)
• Fire extinguisher or fire blanket

If war threatens — warning signs and what to do

The early warning (guide 24) reports: mobilisation, state of tension/state of defence, NATO collective defence (Article 5), travel warnings for neighbouring countries, an accumulation of reports of attacks. Then, within one hour:

• Fill up the tank, get cash, secure 4 weeks of medication
• Fill up water, check supplies (supplies calculator)
• Call family and friends, confirm the meeting point
• Packed grab bags next to the door (guide 14)
• Prepare the decision stay or go — do not take to the roads in a panic at the same time as everyone else

State of defence — what the law may require of you (Germany)

The following rules apply in Germany. Other countries have different laws — the competent authority of your country can tell you what applies.

• Compulsory military service: in a state of tension or state of defence, compulsory military service applies to men until the end of the year in which they turn 60 (Section 3(5) of the Compulsory Military Service Act, Wehrpflichtgesetz). This affects every man in the household up to 60 (the emergency folder can include this note if such a person is entered). Call-up notices are issued via the Bundeswehr career centre (Karrierecenter).
• Longer stays abroad: men generally need approval from the career centre for more than 3 months abroad (Section 3(2) WPflG). In peacetime it is currently deemed granted; in a state of tension/defence it can be refused. Leaving the country is then legally not straightforward for those liable to military service — clarify the situation early.
• Work obligations: the Labour Safeguarding Act (Arbeitssicherstellungsgesetz) allows people in vital sectors (supply, health, transport) to be obliged to work in a state of defence.
• Requisitioning of property: under the requisitioning laws (Leistungsgesetze), authorities can, for example, requisition vehicles or fuel.
• Women cannot be obliged to serve with weapons under the Basic Law (Grundgesetz); in a state of defence, women aged 18 to 55 can be called up for civilian services in the medical and healthcare sector (Article 12a(4) of the Basic Law).

Legal situation as of: September 2026. Laws can change quickly — in an emergency, the current announcements and official notices apply.

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