Building a Border Together in Poland

Alliance Solidarity: In response to Russia’s attack on Ukraine, Poland decided to implement the national “Eastern Shield” initiative to expand fortifications to protect the Polish border. The Bundeswehr is now supporting this project at Poland’s invitation.

Following the recognition of the support for the Polish “Eastern Shield” initiative as an official mission on June 15, 2026, the Bundeswehr has assumed responsibility for Germany’s contribution.

“Europe’s security is defended collectively. Through our engagement in Poland, we are strengthening NATO’s defense capabilities and underscoring the Alliance’s firm resolve to secure peace through unity and credible deterrence,” says Lieutenant General Alexander Sollfrank, Commander of the Bundeswehr’s Operational Command, regarding the significance of this mission.

The German contingent consists of highly specialized engineer units from the Army and the Bundeswehr Support Command, as well as personnel from the Bundeswehr Support Command and medical personnel. The mission involves the structural reinforcement of the border area in northern Poland, including the strategically important Suwalki Corridor. The German engineers, together with Polish forces, will dig anti-tank trenches, erect engineering and barbed-wire barriers, and construct field fortifications and firing positions.

The contingent commander explains: “Eastern Shield will reinforce Poland’s borders with Russia and Belarus by constructing a border wall. With our specialized capabilities to block off sections of terrain and render them impassable to the enemy, we are supporting our Polish comrades and enhancing the protection of Poland and the allied armed forces.”

The command of the German forces arrived in Poland as scheduled on June 22, 2026. Approximately 15 soldiers have been on site since June 29 to conduct reconnaissance. The main forces of a reinforced mechanized engineer platoon arrived earlier this month.

The deployment of German engineers in Poland is initially planned to take place in several phases through October 2026, but may be extended beyond that date if necessary.

The program is a major interagency project led by the Polish Ministry of Defense aimed at comprehensive defense preparedness in the event of a conventional attack by Russia and Belarus.

This initiative is intended to delay an invasion by these forces in the event of a military conflict, thereby increasing the response capability of Polish troops and NATO. These measures strengthen Poland’s national resilience, deterrence potential, and readiness for defense.