After the minister gave the green light for the measure, his ministry announced that this was necessary for a number "in the mid-three-digit range"; in Bundeswehr districts there is talk of around 570 men and women.
Despite intensive advertising measures, the Bundeswehr has not yet found enough volunteers for the brigade, which should be operational by the end of 2027. According to the ministry, 80 percent of the brigade's approximately 5,000 positions have already been filled, but there are some "shortage areas", which primarily means IT technicians, tank maintenance specialists or medics, who now have to be ordered to Lithuania. In Germany, too, there are not enough such specialists in the troops.
Joint daily order from Pistorius and Breuer
The Lithuania project is seen as proof that Germany is ready to play a more important role in NATO. In response to Russia's aggressive stance and the invasion of Ukraine, Pistorius decided to station a combat-ready and fully equipped combat unit firmly in Lithuania. To this end, almost 5,000 soldiers and 200 civilian employees are expected to be stationed on site by the end of 2027. Permanent locations are currently being set up at a rapid pace in Rudninkai and Rukla near the border with Belarus.
In a joint daily order on Monday, Pistorius and his Inspector General Carsten Breuer once again underlined the importance of the deployment. "With the permanent stationing of the 45th Panzer Brigade in Lithuania, we have taken on a mission that is unprecedented in the history of the Bundeswehr," says the order that is distributed to all soldiers. The Bundeswehr is thus guaranteeing the security of Lithuania and showing itself to be a reliable partner; this also serves to secure “peace and freedom for the people in Germany”.
Pistorius had originally planned to staff the brigade in Lithuania exclusively with volunteers and had launched an extensive attractiveness program. But to date, there have not been enough reports, especially from the teams and individual specialized units.
The Bundeswehr has set itself a high goal for Lithuania. Unlike in Germany, where most combat units are traditionally only 80 percent staffed and often do not have enough material, the brigade on NATO's eastern flank should be complete from the start. Military officials say that this is the only way the brigade can achieve the desired effect and send the signal that the Bundeswehr is ready for immediate action if tensions arise on NATO's eastern flank.
Pistorius and Breuer promise that “every individual case will be carefully considered, discussions will be held with those affected, personal hardships will be taken into account and the Bundeswehr members and their families in question will be given the best possible support.”
Lithuania borders the Russian Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad and Russia's ally Belarus. Since the Russian attack on Ukraine, the country has felt particularly threatened; there have been suspicious drone overflights almost every day recently, for which Lithuania blames Russia. According to government information, Lithuania's military intelligence service has information that Russia may be considering attacks on critical infrastructure in the Baltic states using Ukrainian drones.
