German soldiers arrive in Lithuania for major combat exercises

German soldiers and tanks have arrived in Lithuania for the first major combat exercise involving the German brigade stationed in the Baltic country. 

A spokesman for the 45th Armoured Brigade of the Bundeswehr, Germany's military, said on Friday that two additional battalions have been sent to Lithuania by ferry and rail for the "Freedom Shield" manoeuvre, including Leopard tanks and Puma armoured personnel carriers.

For the exercise, around 2,900 soldiers – including 2,300 from Germany – and around 800 vehicles from eight NATO countries will be assembled at Lithuania's Pabrade military training area. 

They are to train there “under real-world conditions with all elements of the modern battlefield," including drones, mortars, artillery, attack helicopters, battle tanks and armoured personnel carriers.

The Bundeswehr established the brigade in Lithuania in response to the growing threat from Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. 

The unit was formally commissioned in early 2025 and is expected to be fully operational as a combat unit by 2027, with a total strength of 4,800 soldiers and 200 civilian staff. To date, around 1,800 members of the combat unit are stationed in Lithuania.

The two battalions deployed for the exercise are to be relocated entirely to Lithuania as soon as the Baltic state has completed the necessary infrastructure. 

Until then, they are to visit Lithuania regularly for exercises, with Freedom Shield reportedly set to take place twice a year in future.

Lithuania borders the Russian Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad and Russia’s ally Belarus on NATO's eastern flank.