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45th Panzer Brigade (Bundeswehr)

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45th Panzer Brigade
Panzerbrigade 45
Coat of Arms
Active1 April 2025[1] – Present
Country Germany
BranchGerman Army
TypeHeavy mechanized brigade
Size~4,800 troops
Part of 10th Panzer Division
LocationsRūdninkai Training Area
Rukla (both in Lithuania)
Nickname(s)Litauenbrigade (Lithuania Brigade)
Commanders
Current
commander		Brigadegeneral Christoph Huber
Insignia
NATO Map Symbol
45
10

The 45th Panzer Brigade (German: Panzerbrigade 45, abbreviated PzBrig 45), also known as Lithuania Brigade (German: Litauenbrigade) in German public discourse, is a brigade of the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr). Once its formation is complete it will consist of 4,800 troops. The brigade is subordinated to the 10th Panzer Division, whose headquarter is in Veitshöchheim in Germany. The unit is classified as a heavy mechanized brigade and will be equipped with main battle tanks and infantry fighting vehicles.

The brigade was activated on 1 April 2025 in Lithuania.[1] Notably, it will be the first German brigade-sized unit to be based abroad permanently since the World War II.[2]

History

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The primary purpose of the armoured brigade is to deter Russia from violating the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania), all of whom are NATO member states. Lithuania is vulnerable both because of its land border with Russia's ally Belarus and the Russian exclave Kaliningrad. Only a tight land corridor in between, called the Suwałki Gap, connects the Baltic states to the rest of NATO territory, making Lithuania particularly exposed in case of a Russian attack.[3]

In the aftermath of the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014, NATO established the Enhanced Forward Presence and deployed the multinational battlegroups to the Baltic states in 2017. The battlegroup in Lithuania consisted of roughly 1600 soldiers from various NATO member states on a rotational basis. Germany has been the lead nation, contributing about 1000 troops.[4] After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Germany had pledged to keep one combat brigade at higher combat readiness, ready to deploy to Lithuania within 10 days. Lithuania repeatedly requested a robust, permanent German deployment, which the German government initially declined to commit to.[5] However, in June 2023, German Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius announced that Germany would form a new combat brigade and permanently deploy it to Lithuania.[4][6]

In December 2023, Lithuanian Minister of Defense Arvydas Anušauskas and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius signed a formal agreement on the planned deployment.[7] In April 2024, an advance team of 20 officials arrived in the Lithuanian capital to organize preparatory work. The brigade was formally established on 1 April 2025, being planned to reach full operational capability in 2027.[8][9]

Deployment

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The brigade is expected to comprise 4800 soldiers and 200 civilian staff. Further, a third of the German soldiers are expected to bring their families to Lithuania,[9] requiring not only military infrastructure, but also civilian facilities such as German-language kindergartens and schools.

The bulk of the brigade will be stationed in Rūdninkai Training Area, a densely forested military facility. It currently sees major construction to prepare for the arrival of the German brigade. Lithuanian officials estimate the Rūdninkai base alone to cost over €1 billion (roughly $1.1 billion). Facilities will include accommodation as well as dedicated storage, maintenance, and firing ranges for main battle tanks.[10]

There were reports on financial disagreements about the cost splitting between the Lithuanian and German governments. Whereas the German side expected Lithuania to provide all infrastructure associated with accommodating the German soldiers, Lithuania appeared unwilling to pay for the establishment of schools and kindergartens, or for parts of the accommodation, citing higher expected standards and hence costs compared to common conditions locally.[11][12]

The deployment is also expected to put a significant strain on the German defense budget. Its officials estimate the cost to their taxpayers to range between €6 billion to €9 billion, with annual operating costs of the base being €800 million.[13] One-time expenses include equipment acquisitions for the new brigade, such as main battle tanks of the type Leopard 2A8.[14]

Organization

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Main article: Structure of the German Army

The brigade is planned to be organized as follows:[15]

  • Panzer Brigade 45 (Panzerbrigade 45), in Rūdninkai[1][16]
    • Staff and Support Company Panzer Brigade 45 (Stabs- und Unterstützungskompanie Panzerbrigade 45; currently forming)
    • Panzergrenadier Battalion 122 (Panzergrenadierbataillon 122), in Oberviechtach with 44x Puma Infantry fighting vehicles — will move to Lithuania in 2026
    • Panzer Battalion 203 (Panzerbataillon 203), in Augustdorf with 44x Leopard 2A7 main battle tanks — will move to Lithuania in 2025
    • Multinational Battle Group Lithuania [de], in Rukla (will join Panzer Brigade 45 in 2026)
    • Panzer Artillery Battalion 455 (Panzerartilleriebataillon 455; will form in Germany and move to Lithuania before 2027)
    • Supply Battalion 456 (Versorgungsbataillon 456; will form in Germany and move to Lithuania before 2027)
    • Reconnaissance Company 45 (Aufklärungskompanie 45; will form in Germany and move to Lithuania before 2027)
    • Panzer Engineer Company 45 (Panzerpionierkompanie 45; will form in Germany and move to Lithuania before 2027)
    • Signal Company Panzer Brigade 45 (Fernmeldekompanie Panzerbrigade 45; currently forming)

Commanders

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The following officers have commanded the brigade or its advance team:

No. Name Start of appointment End of appointment
2 Brigadier General Christoph Huber (commander activation staff)[17] 23 September 2024
1 Colonel André Hastenrath (commander activation staff) 8 April 2024 23 September 2024


See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Deutsche Litauen-Brigade als neue Panzerbrigade 45 formal in Dienst gestellt". Augen geradeaus!. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  2. ^ "Germany is permanently stationing troops in another country for the first time since World War II". Business Insider. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
  3. ^ "Germany sends first soldiers for permanent Lithuania force". Deutsche Welle. 4 August 2024. Archived from the original on 14 September 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  4. ^ a b Pitel, Laura; Foy, Henry (26 June 2023). "Germany plans 'permanent' force in Lithuania to strengthen Nato's eastern flank". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2024. But German officials had previously deflected calls for a large permanent German deployment in the country.
  5. ^ Wilke, Peter; von der Burchard, Hans (26 June 2023). "Germany ready to put 4,000 soldiers permanently in Lithuania". Politico. Archived from the original on 14 November 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024. After the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Berlin pledged a year ago to keep a combat brigade ready to defend Lithuania. However, a permanent deployment in Lithuania has been controversial until now. Vilnius demanded it, but the German government did not immediately commit.
  6. ^ "Germany offers to station 4,000 troops in Lithuania to strengthen NATO's eastern flank". Associated Press. 26 June 2023. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024. Until now, however, there have been differences over whether the soldiers should be permanently stationed in Lithuania or only sent there temporarily for exercises. The Lithuanian government has demanded a permanent presence, while the German government for a long time was very reluctant to do that.
  7. ^ Sytas, Andrius. "German brigade to be combat ready in Lithuania, on Russian border, in 2027". Reuters. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  8. ^ "Panzer Brigade 45 now in service". spartanat.com. 1 April 2025. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
  9. ^ a b Dapkus, Liudas; Grieshaber, Kirsten. "German troops arrive in Lithuania, their first long-term foreign deployment since World War II". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 20 September 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  10. ^ Sytas, Andrius. "Lithuania begins construction of base for German troops near Russian border". Reuters. Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  11. ^ Mugele, Lukas (18 March 2024). "Speed bumps on the road for the German brigade in Lithuania". International Center for Defense and Security, Estonia. Archived from the original on 15 November 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  12. ^ Gebauer, Matthias; Kormbaki, Marina (20 December 2023). "Geplante Stationierung deutscher Brigade stellt Litauen vor »gewaltiges finanzielles Problem«". Spiegel (in German). Archived from the original on 8 July 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  13. ^ Posaner, Joshua (3 June 2024). "German tanks and troops in Lithuania have one goal: Scare off Russia". Politico. Archived from the original on 13 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024. German officials have estimated the cost to the taxpayer at anything from €6 billion to €9 billion; much of that will be spent on heavy weapons to arm the brigade. Operating and maintaining the base will cost €800 million a year, a spokesperson for Germany's defense ministry said.
  14. ^ Siebold, Sabine. "Germany to order 105 Leopard tanks to equip German brigade in Lithuania". Reuters. Retrieved 30 November 2024. Germany plans to order 105 Leopard 2 A8 tanks from armsmaker KNDS for 2.93 billion euros ($3.14 billion), according to a confidential budget draft seen by Reuters on Thursday. [...] Some vehicles will equip a German combat brigade in Lithuania being set up as part of NATO's deterrence against Russia [...]
  15. ^ "The Bundeswehr in Lithuania: Major steps towards the German manoeuvre brigade". www.bundeswehr.de. 5 November 2024. Archived from the original on 14 November 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  16. ^ Redaktionsteam der Koordinierungsstelle Brigade Litauen. "Brigade Litauen". Zu Gleich (2/2024): 22–25. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  17. ^ Möller, Norman (14 September 2024). "Future Commander of the Brigade in Lithuania assumes post". www.bundeswehr.de. Bundeswehr. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
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