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Germany Deploys First Permanent Military Brigade Abroad Since WWII

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Maryna_kulakova
Maryna Kulakova
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Germany Deploys First Permanent Military Brigade Abroad Since WWII
Commander Colonel Olaf Detlefsen (M) hands over the troop flag to Lieutenant General Andre Bodemann (l) during the handover of command of the Brandenburg State Command of the Bundeswehr in the New Lustgarten. (Source: Getty Images)

Germany has initiated its first foreign military deployment since World War II. A tank brigade, consisting of 5,000 personnel, will be stationed in Lithuania, aiming to strengthen NATO's eastern flank in response to Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine, according to Politico on April 1.

The newly formed 45th Tank Brigade was officially activated during a ceremony in Lithuania, as reported by the Bundeswehr Association, which represents German military interests. A temporary headquarters has been set up, featuring the brigade’s emblem, and the unit is now officially 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 told the German news agency dpa. “In doing so, we also protect NATO territory — and Germany itself.”

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced the permanent brigade deployment in June 2023 during his visit to Vilnius. The unit is expected to be fully staffed by 2027 and will be based in a new military complex in Rūdninkai, located about 30 kilometers south of Vilnius. Until then, the troops will be temporarily stationed at various Lithuanian bases.

Politico notes that this deployment marks the end of decades of German defense policy that avoided the permanent stationing of combat forces abroad. “For Germany, it’s a major step in shedding its reputation as a reluctant military power,” the publication observes.

Currently, 150 German soldiers are deployed in Lithuania, with plans to increase that number to 500 by the end of the year. Both main forces and support units, including a medical center, a communications company, and command support groups, will be stationed at multiple locations.

Germany leads NATO's enhanced forward presence battlegroup in Lithuania, with around 1,500 German soldiers stationed there. However, most of the troops remain on standby within Germany itself.

In response to Russia’s 2014 attempted annexation of Crimea, four multinational NATO battlegroups were established in Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Poland in 2016. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, the deployment of an additional four battlegroups was initiated in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia.

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