Germans Warned To “Stockpile Cash In Case Of ‘War”

The German government is warning its people to ‘stockpile’ food, water and cash in case of ‘war’.

For the first time since the end of the Cold War, the German government is set to tell citizens to stockpile food, water, medicine, fuel and cash in case of war, an attack, catastrophe or “national emergency”, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung newspaper reported on Sunday.

Angela Merkel, Francois Hollande and Matteo Renzi on Aircraft Carrier Garibaldi yesterday. Photo: Guido Bergmann / DPA

Angela Merkel’s government is to “encourage the population” to have their own “personal supplies” including having some reserves of cash in their homes. People will also be urged to keep supplies of medicines, warm blankets, coal, wood, candles, torches, batteries and matches.

Regarding the advice to own cash outside the banking system, Deutsche Welle pointed out that:

“A wad of cash is another important part of any household’s emergency supplies. There may not be time to rush to a bank, and ATMs won’t work if the power is out.”

This is one of the primary reasons that one should own physical gold coins and bars outside the banking, financial and indeed the “technological system” and its dependence on electrical grids and supplies. Many of these systems are antiquated and vulnerable to attack such as from electromagnetic pulse (EMP) warfare that could quickly take out a large city or indeed a nation’s electricity infrastructure and supplies.

Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung  reported that the

“Population should be able to protect themselves before government measures start to ensure an adequate supply of food, water, energy and cash.”

“The population will be obliged to hold an individual supply of food for ten days,” the newspaper quoted the government’s “Concept for Civil Defence” – which has been prepared by the Interior Ministry – as saying. According to information leaked to Frankfurter Allgemeine Sontagszeitung they include advice to citizens to stockpile enough food for ten days and clean drinking water for five days.

“The population should be urged by appropriate means to keep two litres of drinking water per person per day,” the newspaper quoted a government paper as saying.

The 69-page report does not see an attack on Germany’s territory, which would require a conventional style of national defense, as likely. However, the precautionary measures demand that people “prepare appropriately for a development that could threaten our existence and cannot be categorically ruled out in the future,” the paper cited the report as saying.

The government is to increase stocks of smallpox vaccine and antibiotics in case of biological attack, and set up reserves of petrol and oil at 140 locations around Germany to ensure a supply for 90 days. Other provisions include setting up decontamination sites outside hospitals in case of nuclear, biological or chemical attack.

German newspapers like Deutsche Welle have complied handy checklists such as What emergency supplies do you need?

It is important to note that another global financial crisis and collapse of the global banking and financial system would also necessitate citizens being prepared. Deutsche Bank’s share price has all the hallmarks of that of Lehman Brothers prior to Lehman’s collapse.

Political and financial complacency reigns today as it tends to do regarding geopolitical risk. The complacency of the world between 1900 and 1914 is the best example of this. There is little analysis of the potential impact of terrorism and war on the lives of citizens or indeed on their personal finances.

Owning some gold coins and bars outside the banking and financial system will protect from these scenarios. As ever, it is prudent to hope for the best but be prepared for less benign scenarios.