Germany launches first permanent troop deployment since WWII in Lithuania

Germany has officially launched its first permanent foreign troop deployment since World War II, stationing a 5,000-strong armored brigade in Lithuania as part of its efforts to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank in response to Russia’s war against Ukraine.

On April 1, Germany’s 45th Armored Brigade was formally activated during a ceremony outside Vilnius, according to the German military’s lobbying group, Caliber.Az reports, referring to international media.

A temporary headquarters was established, and the brigade's crest was unveiled, officially placing the unit under the command of Brigadier General Christoph Huber.

"We have a clear mission: to ensure the protection, freedom, and security of our Lithuanian allies on NATO’s eastern flank," Huber said. "In doing so, we also protect NATO territory — and Germany itself."

Berlin first pledged this long-term deployment in 2023, marking a historic shift in German defense policy, which had long avoided permanent stationing of combat troops abroad. The brigade is expected to be fully operational by 2027 and will ultimately be based in a new military complex in Rūdninkai, about 30 kilometers south of Vilnius. Until the base is complete, the troops will operate from temporary Lithuanian facilities.

The brigade will not only include frontline combat forces but also support units, such as:

• A medical center

• A signal company

• Command support teams

These units will be spread across multiple locations in Lithuania.

Currently, 150 German troops are stationed in Lithuania, with the number expected to increase to 500 by the end of 2024.

For NATO, the deployment is a key element in its transition to forward defense, strengthening deterrence in the region. For Germany, the move represents a major step toward shedding its past reputation as a reluctant military power.

Lithuania, which shares borders with Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave and Kremlin ally Belarus, sees the German deployment as crucial to its national security.

By Tamilla Hasanova