One of the Bundeswehr's most ambitious projects is taking shape: The deployment of almost 5,000 German soldiers in Lithuania. On April 1, the new "Panzerbrigade 45" or Armored Brigade 45  was officially put into service in the capital Vilnius. It forms the core of the combat unit with which Germany hopes to secure NATO's eastern flank at the request of Lithuania, in response to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

While the German army previously consisted of eight brigades, a ninth is now being added, the one in Lithuania. It is to remain there permanently — a first in the history of the Bundeswehr. As a symbol of solidarity, the emblem of the Panzerbrigade 45, which the soldiers wear on their uniforms, also includes a Vilnius landmark, the Gediminas Tower.

"Germany will be ready to defend every square inch of NATO territory," German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius vowed in his first speech to the Bundestag after the new government took over two weeks ago. The stationing of the German brigade in Lithuania, he said, is "a strong signal to our partners and a clear sign to any potential adversary."

Lithuania has 3 million inhabitants and is located between the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad Oblast and Russia's ally Belarus, with which it shares an almost 680-kilometer (423-mile) border. The Lithuanian government is working on building up a powerful armored force, for which it has ordered 44 modern German-made Leopard 2 A8 main battle tanks. The same tank will also be used by the Bundeswehr brigade in Lithuania, facilitating cooperation between the two armies.

New barracks and roads 

Pistorius has been pushing the establishment of the brigade since the summer of 2023. Currently, only the brigade staff and initial support units are on site, but by the end of this year, there should be a total of 500 German soldiers on the ground.

Crucial infrastructure is still being built: In the Rudninkai military training area, the brigade's main base, barracks are being built, new roads are being constructed and a railroad line is being extended to service the site in southeastern Lithuania, around 30 kilometers from the border with Belarus. Schools and kindergartens for the soldiers' families are being built in the cities of Vilnius and Kaunas.

The deployment of the entire brigade, which is to be completed by the end of 2027, is not only a logistical feat for both countries, but also a financial one. Lithuania has increased its defense budget. The new German government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has announced plans to increase Germany's defense spending.

However, the Bundeswehr is struggling to find the 4,800 soldiers and 200 civilian employees it needs to voluntarily relocate to Lithuania for several years at a time. In January, the Bundestag passed legislation designed to make serving on NATO's eastern flank — and in the Bundeswehr in general — more attractive: That includes more flexible working hours, increased allowances, better overtime pay, and post-deployment support.

German schools and field post offices

The Bundeswehr has been deployed in Lithuania since 2017. Germany took over the leadership of the multinational NATO battlegroup there, which was subordinated to the new armored brigade in April.

The legal basis for the permanent deployment of the brigade is an intergovernmental agreement concluded between Germany and Lithuania in September 2024. It allows the Bundeswehr to use Lithuanian properties rent-free, to store weapons and ammunition in the country at its own discretion and to operate field post offices. The government can also establish German-language kindergartens and schools, which will teach the German curriculum and award German qualifications, which will also be recognized in Lithuania.

This article was originally written in German.

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