Munster, Germany – A cloud of brown dust billows into the air as a missile launcher races across a field towards its firing position.

   Moments later, a soldier counts down from five before the roar of a rocket pierces the sky. The blasts and booms of such military exercises have become a common occurrence in Munster, a small German town where the Bundeswehr, Germany’s military, is ramping up its operations.

But the noise is only expected to grow louder as Germany moves forward with a major military overhaul. The country recently made a decisive shift in its defense policy after parliament approved a massive increase in military investment. Lawmakers voted to exempt defense spending from Germany’s stringent debt rules, paving the way for extensive military expansion.

Germany’s top military official, General Carsten Breuer, has emphasized the urgency of this move, warning that Russia’s aggression is unlikely to stop at Ukraine. In an interview with the BBC, he stated, “We are threatened by Russia. We are threatened by Putin. We have to do whatever is needed to deter that.”

According to Gen. Breuer, NATO must brace for a potential Russian attack within as little as four years. “It’s not about how much time I need, it’s much more about how much time Putin gives us to be prepared,” he remarked, stressing the importance of immediate action. “And the sooner we are prepared, the better.”

Germany’s shift towards military readiness represents a significant departure from its post-World War II stance of restraint. The increased spending and large-scale military exercises reflect a broader strategy to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank and deter potential threats. As tensions rise in Europe, Germany is making it clear that it is leaving history in the past and focusing on the security challenges of the future.