Since the fall of 2022, the German Armed Forces have maintained a combat brigade to defend Lithuania. To fasten the ties between the two nations, about 600 members of the Bundeswehr participate in a joint military exercise in Pabradė.
The brigade’s liaison element is permanently stationed in Rukla. At the Pabrade military training area in Lithuania, around 600 German servicemen and women will be practicing defending Lithuania against a potential aggressor together with their Lithuanian comrades. The exercise is preceded by the transfer of forces from Germany to the Baltic States. The means of transportation include sea, road and air.
Since 2017, the Bundeswehr has been present in the Baltic States as a framework nation and major troop contributor to the multinational Battlegroup Lithuania. This endeavour is part of the enhanced Forward Presence. In response to the Russian attack on Ukraine in February 2022, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had promised Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda even more extensive support for Lithuanian defense.
Since the fall of 2022, Germany has therefore maintained the enhanced Vigilance Activity Brigade Lithuania. The VAB Lithuania is a combat brigade of the German Army for the defense of Lithuania in the event of a NATO alliance contingency. So far, this is a purely bilateral measure to strengthen Lithuanian defense readiness and capability without the participation of other NATO partners.
The backbone of the forces is provided by the armored infantry brigade 41 “Vorpommern”. The brigade’s main contingent is stationed in Germany, but regularly deploys to Lithuania for joint combat exercises. For example, soldiers from Jägerbataillon 413 from Torgelow, Panzerpionierbataillon 803 from Havelberg, Reconnaissance Battalion 6 “Holstein” from Eutin and Versorgungsbataillon 142 from Hagenow are taking part in the current Griffin Lightning exercise.
Jonas Brandstetter, editorial staff