From 20 to 22 March 2026, FRANKFURT WESTSIDE was transformed into a setting that resembled a real crisis zone: emergency services trained for a real-life emergency under realistic conditions, supported for the first time by the German Armed Forces.
About the crisis scenario
FRARescueFusion26 centred on a complex, realistic crisis scenario comprising a total of 43 individual scenarios. Among other things, the exercise simulated an earthquake combined with flooding, massive damage to infrastructure, power cuts and blocked transport routes. In the fictional district of ‘Schotterfeld’ in the town of Westmain, damage to a weir led to a sudden increase in discharge of up to 60 per cent – with far-reaching consequences for the entire situation.
The aim of the exercise was to test operational procedures under conditions as realistic as possible and to strengthen cooperation between the various agencies. “We are spending the whole weekend practising an earthquake scenario combined with flooding in fictional countries. We have 250 volunteer emergency personnel, around 63 vehicles, rescue dogs, two Bundeswehr helicopters and 25 soldiers – and the WESTSIDE site is a wonderful training ground for this,” explains Jan Krebs, head of operations at Malteser in Frankfurt am Main.
The significance of the exercise was also highlighted from a political perspective: “Crises are becoming increasingly frequent, and it is important that we are prepared for a range of different scenarios. The exercise demonstrates impressively how the professional collaboration between volunteers, the authorities and the Bundeswehr can save lives, and the responsibility borne by all those involved. It is one of the largest exercises we have seen in the state,” said Hesse’s Minister for the Interior, Roman Poseck.
The key players in WESTSIDE
Numerous civil protection organisations took part in FRARescueFusion26, working together to practise responses to complex emergency scenarios. These included the German Life Saving Association (DLRG) Frankfurt am Main with a water rescue unit, the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Frankfurt with its transport support unit, and the Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe e. V. Frankfurt with a medical treatment unit and a drone squadron.
The Maltese Order in Frankfurt, with a medical unit; the Frankfurt am Main branch of the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW); and the German Red Cross (DRK) in Frankfurt, with a special emergency response team (SEG), also took part in the exercise. The teams were supplemented by the Frankfurt Fire Brigade with a search and rescue dog unit and the motorcycle unit of the Frankfurt Aid Organisations Working Group. Together with all the volunteers, over 400 people took part in the civil protection exercise.
A key factor: volunteering. The vast majority of emergency personnel are volunteers and thus form the backbone of civil protection in Germany. In addition, the German Armed Forces supported the exercise with two NH90 multi-purpose helicopters and the District Liaison Command. In FRANKFURT WESTSIDE, these units were able to test their procedures for the first time in an urban setting under realistic conditions.
“This civil protection exercise shows what can be achieved when everyone pulls together. 99% of those involved are volunteers, and their commitment is invaluable to the safety of our city and the region. Thank you to everyone who takes responsibility and helps others,” emphasises Mayor Mike Josef.
Significance and locational advantage
Modern crises are complex and dynamic – standardised plans alone are no longer sufficient. What is needed are flexible structures, well-rehearsed procedures and close cooperation across organisational boundaries. This is precisely where FRARescueFusion26 comes in: it strengthens crisis resilience, i.e. the ability of society and institutions to respond quickly and effectively to unforeseen events.
FRANKFURT WESTSIDE offers “an exceptionally versatile mix for this purpose: open spaces, old industrial sites, existing buildings and, at the same time, areas where new developments are taking shape. This enables us to create the right conditions for a wide variety of scenarios within a single site,” explains Hendrik Staiger, Spokesman for the Executive Board of BEOS AG.
FRANKFURT WESTSIDE facilitated seamless cooperation between aid organisations, the German Armed Forces and civilian stakeholders for the first time. Transport helicopters were able to land, mobile supply stations were set up, and complex manoeuvres through an urban environment were rehearsed under realistic conditions.
“We have a wonderful site here. Especially in the current climate, it’s clear that nothing works without security. When the Maltese organisation approached us, we were immediately keen to make a contribution to the community and make our site available to the emergency services,” says Mathias Strauch, Head of RE Development Westside at BEOS AG.
The long-standing partnership was also highlighted: “We have been working closely with BEOS for years. BEOS is not only involved in urban development here, but also plays an active role in the city and brings real added value to the west of Frankfurt,” said Lord Mayor Mike Josef.
Insights for city and society
The exercise was prepared intensively over a period of five months – from developing the scenarios and organising equipment and locations to coordinating with the authorities and partners.
The next step is to analyse the findings. The aim is to further optimise processes, improve coordination and strengthen cooperation between stakeholders in the long term. FRARescueFusion26 has therefore not only highlighted the current state of civil protection, but is also providing important insights for future operations.
