GERMAN BRIGADE IN LITHUANIA

The decision to permanently relocate the German Brigade to Lithuania was made in 2023. This decision is historic for both Germany and Lithuania, carrying significant implications for strengthening stability across the entire region and Europe. It reflects NATO’s commitment to collective defence and is part of the Alliance’s regional defence plans, which were approved during the NATO summit held in Vilnius in July 2023.

Given that the Brigade’s presence in Lithuania is of vital importance to the country, we are committed to creating the necessary conditions for its reception. All Lithuanian institutions are making efforts to establish the infrastructure for housing soldiers, providing training, storage and maintenance of military equipment, as well as ensuring the necessary civilian services to accommodate the families of German soldiers arriving in Lithuania.


45TH ARMOURED BRIGADE LITAUEN OF THE GERMAN ARMY

The German Army’s 45th Armoured Brigade, consisting of three manoeuvre battalions and all necessary enablers, including combat support and logistics units, will be permanently relocated to Lithuania. The Brigade’s relocation will occur gradually, with most of the deployment taking place in 2025–2026, and the full operational combat capability of the Brigade is expected to be achieved by 2027. The Brigade will be a fully combat-ready unit, equipped with all necessary vehicles, equipment, personnel and supplies.

The following units will be relocated to Lithuania:

The 122nd Mechanised Infantry Battalion from Oberviechtach, Bavaria

The 203rd Tank Battalion from Augustdorf, North Rhine-Westphalia

The Multinational eFP Battlegroup Lithuania already stationed in Lithuania, will become the third combat unit to be integrated into the brigade

5,000
German brigade soldiers and civilian personnel
2,000
military vechiles
3
major combat units
2
locations
1
strong signal of Alliance Solidarity

BRIGADE COMMANDER BRIG. General Christoph HUBER

In 2024, Brigadier General Christoph Huber was appointed to lead the German Brigade in Lithuania. Brig. Gen. Ch. Huber is very familiar with Lithuania. He was the first commander of NATO’s eFP Battlegroup in Lithuania and was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Order for Merits to Lithuania in 2017.

BRIGADE DEPLOYMENT LOCATIONS

The German Brigade has two main service locations: the Rūdninkai military training area, where the majority of the German Brigade will be based, and Rukla, where allied troops are currently deployed. Logistical support points are planned in other locations across Lithuania. It is expected that approximately 5,000 German Brigade soldiers and civilian personnel will relocate to Lithuania.

While the military infrastructure designated for the German Brigade at the Rūdninkai training area is being developed, the Brigade’s initial elements are serving in central Vilnius, and the soldiers arriving in 2025–2026 will use the Lithuanian Armed Forces infrastructure located near Vilnius, such as the Nemenčinė and Rokantiškės military sites. Here, German troops will have all the necessary conditions to work and train. Later, once the required infrastructure is in place, the Rūdninkai training area and Rukla will become the Brigade’s main locations.

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