Bundeswehr tank delayed: soldiers ready for deployment in Lithuania!

Bundeswehr tank delayed: soldiers ready for deployment in Lithuania!

On August 6th, the 411 Panzergrenadier Battalion from Viereck near Pasewalk took command of the multinational military unit in Lithuania. This unit, made up of around 350 soldiers from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, will be stationed in Rukla, where the 18th rotation of the NATO Multinational Battlegroup begins. The NNN reports that the Bundeswehr has been part of this mission since 2017, which serves to defend NATO's northeastern flank.

Lieutenant Colonel Tobias Tiedau will lead the 411 Panzergrenadier Battalion. Over the last twelve months, the soldiers have prepared intensively for the operation, which will take place over 1,000 kilometers away in Rukla. The first steps towards the relocation were already taken today in Torgelow-Drögeheide, where around 20 Marder armored personnel carriers and other military vehicles were ready for loading.

Delayed processes

However, transporting the vehicles came with some obstacles. The train that was supposed to take the tanks to Lithuania was delayed by about an hour and a half. Despite this delay, the loading of the armored personnel carriers went smoothly and took about half an hour, as loading officer Captain David reported. He expressed satisfaction with the loading process and fortunately was unable to report any incidents or injuries.

The NATO Multinational Battlegroup Lithuania has a total strength of around 1,200 soldiers and is led by the German Bundeswehr. Deployed in Lithuania since August 2017, this unit is part of the NATO Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP), which not only helps strengthen the Baltic countries and Poland, but also serves as a deterrent against Russia. The association rotates every six months to avoid permanent deployment, which Russia would see as a provocation. This is a very sensitive issue, especially since Russia's attack on Ukraine, which meant that Germany no longer feels bound by the NATO-Russia Founding Act of 1997.

The military formation and cooperation

In addition to the German contingent, international partner troops are also stationed in Rukla and use various vehicles. In addition to the German GTK Boxer and Fuchs armored personnel carrier, this also includes armored personnel carriers such as the CV90 and main battle tanks such as the Leclerc. The commander of the first rotation was Lieutenant Colonel Christoph Huber, followed by several successors, including Lieutenant Colonel Thorsten Gensler. Furthermore, various rotations were provided by different armored infantry battalions, which underlines the close cooperation and rotating command commands of the multinational unit.

The upcoming mission once again shows the commitment of the Bundeswehr and its partners within NATO and consolidates defense measures in the region. The upcoming work and exchange between nations represent an important step towards ensuring peace and stability in Europe.