The war is no longer taking place in the distance, but rather in the middle of Europe. Urban combat is one of its most brutal forms. Military expert Julian Werner explains what makes him particularly threatening.
There is war in Europe. The Russian regime is constantly making threats against Germany and its allies. This makes it all the more important to understand the brutal phenomenon of war and what the unleashing of violence means. Julian Werner, a former paratrooper officer in the Bundeswehr, is taking on this task.
Why are cities in particular always so competitive? What does urban combat mean for civilians and soldiers? What needs to happen so that Bundeswehr soldiers are better prepared for emergencies? Julian Werner, author of the book “War at Home”, answers these questions in an interview.
t-online: Mr. Werner, Germany experienced an era of peace, now war is threateningly close again. The scenario of an urban battle on NATO territory appears particularly threatening. What constitutes an urban battle?
Julian Werner: Urban combat means war invades our home. The war can hardly get any closer. Violence in and around our homes – this is a primal human fear. For the residents of a city or a town, a catastrophe begins when there is fighting there. Civilians seek shelter in cellars and wait there for days, hoping for a break in the fighting so they can get food, water and medicine. It’s a fight for survival; for civilians, urban combat is a nightmare.
Doesn’t this also apply to soldiers fighting in cities?
Without doubt. But a differentiated view is needed. Military and security experts warn with great regularity about the potential for huge losses in urban combat. They often present this as a particularly dangerous type of operation, which is scientifically untenable. The casualty rate when fighting in cities is not clearly higher than in other areas. In fact, the failure rate due to psychological stress appears to be somewhat lower in urban combat.
To person
Julian Wernerborn in 1992, is a former paratrooper officer in the specialized army forces with the rank of first lieutenant. He was deployed abroad several times for the Bundeswehr, including in Niger and as part of the military evacuation of Sudan. Since 2024, Werner has been researching the topics of urban warfare and military innovation at the University of the Bundeswehr in Munich at the Center for Intelligence and Security Studies under Carlo Masala. Werner’s book was recently published “War at home. About urban combat and everyday life in a state of emergency“.
Urban combat is a terrible experience that burdens those affected for the rest of their lives. I have to emphasize this at this point. But: Soldiers in the trenches also endure fire there for days and weeks. They are being shot at with artillery, they fear the drones. Artillery shells hiss in, the drones whir, both radiate deadly danger. The soldiers there usually don’t even see the enemy; they are at the mercy of their fate. The fight in the city, on the other hand, is usually more dynamic. It goes from house to house, fire fights take place directly. This gives the soldiers at least some sense of control.
