German brigade begins training in Lithuania ahead of full deployment

A German armoured brigade set to be permanently stationed in Lithuania has begun its first exercises at the country’s military training grounds, state broadcaster LRT reports.

The 45th Brigade, designated the “Lithuania” brigade, arrived with around 800 units of heavy equipment, including Leopard 2 tanks and Puma infantry fighting vehicles, for the “Freedom Shield” drills. Roughly 3,000 troops are participating in the manoeuvres, which mark the brigade’s first training in Lithuania.

Brigade commander Brigadier General Christoph Huber said the exercises demonstrate NATO’s readiness to defend “every centimetre” of allied territory. “I am very glad we can train shoulder to shoulder with allies, because this could become reality if someone dares to attack Lithuania or the NATO alliance,” Huber told LRT.

At the General Silvestras Žukauskas Training Area, German troops encountered engineered obstacles, minefields, and—less commonly seen in NATO drills—explosive-laden drones. In one simulated battle, a Puma vehicle was “destroyed” by drones equipped with optical cables. German forces also deployed protective cages on tanks to counter drone strikes, a tactic once dismissed but now taken seriously.

The brigade will remain in Lithuania until late 2025, though most heavy equipment will return to Germany temporarily while a dedicated military base is completed in Rūdninkai. German Ambassador Cornelius Zimmermann called the deployment a “flagship” of Berlin’s Zeitenwende (turning point) policy, signalling a firm commitment to European security. “By the end of next year, the brigade will be fully operational. Could there be a clearer sign of Germany’s dedication to freedom and security in Europe?” he said.

Huber added that soldiers had volunteered for the Lithuanian assignment and were satisfied with their reception. “Lithuania is attractive to my troops, not least because the brigade will have the most modern equipment available from day one of operations,” he noted. The exercises will continue through June, with an unofficial visit expected from German Defence Minister Boris Pistorious.

Lithuania has hosted rotating NATO battlegroups since 2017, but the German brigade marks the first permanent foreign deployment in the country as part of reinforced deterrence measures on NATO’s eastern flank.