Work in the Initial Element of the German Brigade Litauen that deployed in Lithuania in early April is gathering pace. Commander of the Initial Element Col André Hastenrath sat down to share his thoughts on the primary tasks, challenges and his personal mission as the next phase of stationing the German brigade is approaching.
The Initial Element of the Litauen Brigade is based in Vilnius and includes 21 servicemembers from 15 regions of Germany and 16 different military units. Its Commander Col André Hastenrath has been deployed in Lithuania before, the officer is in charge of planning the stationing and coordinating the requirements for the stationing infrastructure with the Lithuanian side.
The Initial Headquarters Element is planned to grow up to 150 members by the end of the year who will be responsible for further organisation of the German personnel stationing in Lithuania.
“Our task is to create the conditions to deploy next element, approx. 120 troops, due in Lithuania in October. Our task till 2025 is to do the work to ensure the deploying German military have all the necessary conditions here and could exercise successfully. The main elements of the Brigade will begin moving to Lithuania from 2025,” says Col A. Hastenrath and continues speaking about the aim of the Brigade as a whole.
“The Litauen Brigade will be the first Brigade Germany stationed abroad, in Lithuania, to be ready to defend. First, to deter, hopefully it will be enough, but then to defend Lithuania if it is necessary.”
The German Brigade in Lithuania will have to reach Full Operational Capability in 2027. In total, approx. 4800 German military personnel and 200 civilians are planned to be stationed. Lithuania is committed to ensure all the necessary conditions: to develop proper military infrastructure and civilian services.
According to Col A. Hastenrath, Germans are mostly interested in a training infrastructure that would allow them to retain their level.
“it will depend on their task and how fast we are implementing the process, but in the end the troops will be well-trained arriving in Lithuania. But then, we will have to set the conditions that they can be trained, or rather, to keep that level high here. Or like we say, to keep the sword sharp.”
When the infrastructure at the Rūdninkai Training Area is complete, the military area Šalčininkai region will be the main base of the German brigade. Rūdninkai will be the main service site for most of the Brigade members, the remaining will be serving in Rukla. The soldiers who will arrive with families are planned to live in Kaunas and Vilnius.
Col A. Hastenrath has already fallen in love with our country and says his family has a personal side of the deployment: to show the soldiers back in Germany a positive experience of service in Lithuania.
“It’s not the first time I’m being here, I was always here from August 2022 to February 2023. I really love your country and it was part of my personal decision process. Now my spouse is also here in Vilnius and we are both happy to be here.
Our task is also, I think, to bring this positive experience to our soldiers in Germany, that it is not only, let’s say, a military positive challenge – also you can be part of the Lithuanian community which is also great here,” said Commander of the Initial Element of the Litauen Brigade.
Col A. Hastenrath admits that it is a challenge to convince German troops to deploy with families, however, a surmountable one.
“There are two sides of the deployment, on the one hand it is military: training infrastructure, logistics, etc. And then it is the family: schools, kindergartens, lodging, which is something we also have to take care of.
If we look only at the military part, the appointment to Lithuania is a very positive experience for everyone because you will be fully equipped and there will be very good training conditions in the end.
On the other hand, it’s a question if we are able to set the preconditions for the family. This has to be balanced. All in all, we are very positive about that part that there will be, let’s say, enough soldiers to deploy in Lithuania.”
The Brigade will be moved to Lithuania in several stages and will comprise three maneuver battalions with all enablers necessary for a battalion, including combat support and provisions units. It will be formed by existing and newly established units. The 203rd Panzer Battalion from North Rhine–Westphalia and the 122nd Panzergrenadier Battalion from Bavaria will be moved to Lithuania, while the enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Lithuania will be transformed into a multinational battalion and become an integral part of the brigade.
The German force presence in Lithuania will strengthen deterrence and if necessary, set the conditions for Lithuania’s forward defence. The German Brigade Litauen is also an important constituent part of the NATO collective defence.
