Germany deploys military forces abroad for first time since 1945

For the first time since 1945, Germany has stationed a military contingent outside its borders, marking a significant shift in its defence posture.

The German troops have been deployed in Lithuania at the Rudninkai and Kazlų Rūda training ranges, located near the borders with Belarus and the Kaliningrad region, Caliber.Az reports via the Lithuanian National Defence Ministry.

The Lithuanian Defence Ministry confirmed the deployment and noted that the training zones have been expanded nearly threefold in response to growing geopolitical tensions.

The Rudninkai range, which had been closed in 1993, was reactivated as part of this strategic shift, while the Kazlų Rūda range has been operational since the 1970s, with its shooting range now situated just 50-60 kilometres from the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. 

Looking ahead, by 2027, Germany plans to station a full armoured brigade of 5,000 soldiers in Lithuania, a substantial increase from the 150 soldiers currently stationed in the country. The number of German troops in Lithuania is expected to rise to 500 by the end of 2025. According to the Lithuanian Defence Ministry, the deployment and the establishment of the armoured brigade are aimed at reinforcing NATO’s eastern flank in response to evolving security challenges in the region. 

“This is a strategic measure to safeguard the integrity and security of the NATO alliance amid current geopolitical uncertainties,” the ministry stated.

The Rudninkai training range was closed in 1993 but later reactivated. Kazlų Rūda has been functioning as a training base since the 1970s, and the shooting range is located 50-60 kilometres from Kaliningrad.

Earlier in April, the German Bundeswehr announced the permanent deployment of the 45th Armored Brigade in Lithuania. The main location for the troops will be a yet-to-be-constructed barracks complex with a military training range in Rudninkai.

By Naila Huseynova