Around 1,700 soldiers from a German brigade are currently serving in Lithuania, and their number is expected to exceed 2,000 by the end of 2026, the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence said on Friday. The deployment is proceeding according to plan, while both Vilnius and Berlin stress that the project is of strategic importance for deterring Russia and strengthening NATO’s eastern flank.
Lithuanian Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said that the transfer of Germany’s 45th Armoured Brigade “Lithuania” is moving forward smoothly, in line with the agreed timetable and the mutual commitments of both countries. He emphasized that the presence of German soldiers is now one of the clearest signals of deterrence toward Russia, and that their numbers are steadily increasing.
Not only the troops themselves are now in Lithuania, but also their families. According to the ministry, 71 families of German soldiers and 133 children are currently living in the country. Lithuanian authorities stress that alongside the expansion of the military presence, social, educational and medical infrastructure is also being developed to make everyday life easier for the families of incoming personnel.
One of the key challenges remains education for the children of German soldiers. To address this, Lithuania plans to complete by early September the renovation of facilities at the Lithuanian Centre for the Education of the Blind and Visually Impaired, where classes for students from grades five through eleven are to be opened. In addition, temporary German-language preschool groups for up to 80 children are to be launched in Kaunas from mid-year.
Since September last year, Deutsche Schule Vilnius, a German school for the children of soldiers, has also been in operation. It currently serves around 20 students. Nearby, German-language preschool and pre-primary groups for about 30 children are also operating. These have been organized in modular buildings next to the education centre.
The Lithuanian Defence Ministry also notes that health services for the German brigade are being strengthened. In 2027–2028, a primary-level military medical centre is to be established, providing such services as family medicine and dental care for brigade personnel. More specialized treatment will continue to be provided by Lithuania’s civilian healthcare institutions, which will also serve civilian staff and family members.
At the same time, transport connections between Lithuania and Germany are being improved. Additional flights to Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Cologne and Dortmund are planned for this summer. This is intended to make it easier for soldiers to maintain contact with their relatives and to improve the logistics of the entire deployment.
An important part of the preparations is also the expansion of transport infrastructure on the ground. Lithuania is planning to build an additional railway line from Jašiūnai to the military base at the Rūdninkai training area. The project is to be carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Transport and Communications and rail infrastructure manager LTG Infra. The new railway will allow the transport of heavy military equipment as well as passengers, strengthening the operational capacity of the base and improving soldiers’ access to their place of service.
Berlin plans to deploy a full brigade of around 5,000 troops in Lithuania by the end of 2027. The formation will also include the multinational NATO battlegroup. Most of the brigade will be stationed at the Rūdninkai training area in the Šalčininkai District, while engineering and reconnaissance units are to be deployed in Rukla in the Jonava District.
The growing presence of German troops in Lithuania is one of NATO’s most important military projects in the region. For Vilnius, it means a tangible strengthening of security, while for Berlin it is a confirmation of its readiness to play a greater role on the Alliance’s eastern flank. All signs suggest that the German military presence in Lithuania will continue to grow steadily in the coming months.
