Relief in Lithuania

With a solemn ceremony on December 12, 2024 in Rukla, Tank Brigade 21 "Lipperland" officially concluded its mission of enhanced Vigilance Activities (eVA) in Lithuania. For a year, the brigade from Augustdorf in North Rhine-Westphalia was responsible for the additional reassurance of the Baltic state provided by Germany. 

Numerous exercises characterized the commitment, during which around 2,000 soldiers were deployed to the NATO eastern flank. The Commander of the German Army, Lieutenant General Harald Gante, handed over the responsibility for the follow-on mission Forward Land Forces (FLF) Brigade to the Mechanized Infantry Brigade 37 "Free State of Saxony."

"It is not just a change from one contingent to the next. We are all witnesses to how politics is evolving and how we, as the Bundeswehr, contribute to it," said Lieutenant General Harald Gante, Commander of the German Army, at the conclusion ceremony in Lithuania. "We are not just providing a brigade, but we are moving towards aligning a complete German division, Division 2025, towards the NATO eastern flank. This is the best demonstration of deterrence against Russia when it comes to defending the Lithuanian borders."

The mission of Tank Brigade 21 as an eVA brigade was marked by six multinational exercises, involving a total of around 3,000 soldiers and over 900 combat vehicles. Realistic training was conducted within the NATO framework together with Lithuanian, Polish, American, and Czech forces.

Brigadier General Marco Eggert, Commander of the eVA Brigade, draws a consistently positive conclusion about the past year of deployment: "Our mission in Lithuania has not only contributed to the country's security, but also significantly strengthened our own capabilities." The experience gained in large-scale road marches proved invaluable for the medium forces brigade. The deployments always started from the home locations of the subordinate battalions in Germany and led to Lithuania - totaling around 6,000 kilometers covered. These strenuous marches with combat vehicles like the GTK BOXER laid the groundwork for demanding combat exercises, which were conducted, among others, at the Pabrade Training Area - just a few kilometers from the Belarusian border. Since taking over the responsibility for Lithuania, Tank Brigade 21 was permanently stationed in Rukla with a forward command element consisting of German soldiers. This forward command element, complemented by regular troop movements, clearly demonstrated the close cooperation with the Lithuanian partners.

Tank Brigade 21 "Lipperland" is the first brigade of the German Army assigned to the new category of "Medium Forces." With its highly mobile units, the brigade is capable of rapid and extensive deployment throughout the entire European operational area of NATO. Through high mobility, firepower, and tank protection, the large unit is particularly flexible, versatile, fast, and effective. From late 2023 to the end of 2024, Tank Brigade 21 contributed to deterrence on the NATO eastern flank of the Baltic state as an eVA brigade in Lithuania.

Mechanized Infantry Brigade 37 continues the mission of reassurance for the Baltic states under Forward Land Forces (FLF). The FLF Brigade remains stationed in Germany but is ready for rapid deployment to Lithuania. It is one of three brigades of Division 2025. Germany has designated Division 2025 for the collective defense of the alliance area on high readiness in the NATO Force Model. The division consists mostly of units from the 10th Armored Division. Until the Tank Brigade 45 achieves full operational readiness in Lithuania, Mechanized Infantry Brigade 37 remains on high readiness to fulfill Germany's commitment to reassure the Baltic states. Just like the enhanced Vigilance Activities Brigade, it will regularly demonstrate its operational and rapid deployment readiness through exercises in Lithuania.

GERMAN ARMY online