The 41st Armored Infantry Brigade of the German Bundeswehr assigned to Lithuania as enhanced Vigilance Activity (eVA) Brigade has transferred the mission to the 21st Armored Brigade. Respectively, Commander Brig Gen Christian Nawrat handed over to Commander Col Marco Eggert to ensure continued deterrence and defence.
Allied troops were welcomed and farewelled Thursday by Vice Minister of National Defence Žilvinas Tomkus and Commander of the 1st Division of the Bundeswehr Maj Gen Heico Hubner at a Hand Over-Take Over ceremony in Rukla.
“The German contribution obviously has a profound impact on the security of Lithuania and the entire Baltic region. Let me once again emphasize that the German presence on the ground is one of the key pillars of our national and regional security. We value every German servicemember in our territory who symbolize the unbreakable Allied deterrence and defence commitment,” said Ž. Tomkus presenting National Defence System Medals of Merit to the outgoing Allied troops.
Headquarters of the German 41st Brigade was implementing exercise planning of the military readiness plans, took part in training events organized by the Lithuanian Armed Forces, exercised with Lithuanian and Allied troops.
Units of the 413th Battalion of the Brigade organized bilateral tactical and live-fire exercises Fast Griffin and Griffin Lightning, the 411th Battalion trained redeployment of approx. 1000 troops and 320 pieces of military equipment from the home base to Lithuania via land, sea and air routes at Exercise Griffin Storm.
Commander of the 41st Armored Infantry Brigade Brig Gen Christian Nawrat said at the rotation and command changeover ceremony service in Lithuania had benefited his troops greatly. “We were given a marvelous opportunity to hands- on multilateral cooperation: we learned a lot about operational planning, logistics and other areas. The whole German Armed Forces will profit from our experience.”
Commander of the next eVA Brigade Col M. Eggert spoke at the ceremony about the resolve of his troops to defence every inch of NATO territory. “We are privileged to take charge of security in Lithuania. We stand ready to deter and, if necessary, defence the eastern flank of NATO against any threat.”
Germany announced its commitment to station a Bundeswehr brigade in Lithuania in full volume earlier this year. Defence Ministries and militaries of both countries collaborate closely to implement the decision at the earliest. The implementation plan for the Brigade stationing will be signed later this year.
Germany has led the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group Lithuania since its establishment in 2017. The multinational unit was reinforced immediately last year in the wake of Russia’s wide-scale invasion of Ukraine. Last autumn the enhanced Vigilance Activity Brigade headquarters was deployed to Rukla to ensure coordination of the training, exercises and missions between the Brigade assigned to Lithuania and the Host Nation.
Photo credit SSgt Arnas Čemerka /MoD
