German Logistics Hub

Study

Germany's role as NATO's logistics hub poses new challenges in terms of security, resilience, and cooperation.

Why private-sector-military cooperation is important

As NATO's logistics hub, Germany is at the heart of European defense capabilities – this is precisely what the study “German Logistics Hub” developed by MHP, the zentrum Nachhaltige Transformation (zNT), and BwConsulting GmbH shows.

In the event of a crisis, up to 800,000 soldiers must be deployed and supplied throughout Germany within a few months. The study clearly emphasizes that:

Economic resources are not an option, but a necessity.

International examples show that private-military cooperation is crucial for strengthening capabilities and resilience. Companies already have proven tools such as digital twins, scenario simulations, and hybrid inventory strategies that can be directly transferred to military logistics.

The study follows the principle of comprehensive defense—a whole-of-government architecture that systematically links military, economic, and civilian capabilities.

“Defense capability is not created solely through equipment, but through cooperation and trust between the state, the economy, and society.”

Prof. Dr. Torsten OltmannsManaging Partner, zentrum Nachhaltige Transformation

Approach to a resilient national logistics system

With the Digital Supply Hub Germany, the study presents a concrete and technically feasible solution. The platform connects military needs with private sector resources and uses a digital twin of logistics to visualize available transport, storage, and supply capacities in real time.

This creates a precise picture of the situation, identifying bottlenecks at an early stage and managing resources in a targeted manner. Implementation requires a secure legal framework, clearly defined data models, reliable incentives for companies, and pilot projects along strategic logistics corridors.

The conclusion: Germany's defense capability requires close links between military planning, governance, and industrial capacity. This is achieved through cooperation – and MHP shows how this could be realized in practice.

Key findings of the study:

Germany is NATO's logistics hub.
Private-sector-military cooperation is fundamental to defense capabilities.
Comprehensive defense strengthens national resilience.
The proposed solution is Germany as a digital supply hub.

“MHP brings many years of experience in the automotive and manufacturing industries to the table. These industries demonstrate how resilience, efficiency, and controllability can be achieved. This knowledge is crucial for our country's defense capabilities. The study illustrates how this potential can be put to practical use, for example through digital twins and simulations.”

Henning SchulzePartner, MHP

“The study provides an example of how OPLAN Germany could be operationalized and its implementation advanced. The study also demonstrates the substantial added value of our Comprehensive Defense framework: The framework provides a functional basis for the concept of integrated security from the National Security Strategy, thereby creating an implementation-oriented understanding of defense at the national and societal levels.”