The Bundeswehr’s brigade in Lithuania has reached a further milestone.
On Wednesday the Panzer Brigade 45 in Kaunas was formally attached to the “Multinational Battlegroup Lithuania”, announced the Defence Ministry.
This move advances the brigade toward its slated goal of becoming an operational combat unit on NATO’s eastern flank by 2027. A week earlier, Germany had already placed its two combat battalions-Panzer Battalion 203 from Augustdorf and Panzergrenadier Battalion 122 from Oberviechtach-under the brigade. Those units will stay in Germany until the necessary infrastructure is finished.
“We are taking a big step toward our objective of fielding a fully ready German combat brigade on NATO’s eastern flank by 2027” Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) said. He hailed today’s attachment of the Multinational Battlegroup as a key milestone, noting that the brigade now comprises three combat battalions.
With the battlegroup’s attachment, nearly 1,800 personnel are now on site in Lithuania. This figure includes about 500 multinational members of the battlegroup. Adding the personnel of Panzer Battalion 203 and Panzergrenadier Battalion 122 in Germany brings the total strength of the Brigade Lithuania to roughly 2,800 soldiers and civilian staff-an overall number that is expected to rise further this year.
The Multinational Battlegroup Lithuania will remain a permanent, integral part of the brigade, though it will continue to rotate semi‑annually. Germany’s role as the core nation in the arrangement will remain unchanged.