So it is about the heavy brigade of the Bundeswehr
When the heavy fight helicopters thunder over the cathedral square, the Vilniusers applaud. They also applauded shortly before when a military chapel played the German national anthem with timpani and trumpets. And they have the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz applauded, When this passes to the squareto take the Bundeswehr’s solemn appeal. When did a German Chancellor recently applaud from normal citizens at home?
5000 soldiers will permanently park Germany in Lithuania. 400 are already there and form the rod to prepare. Another 1,000 are already in the Baltic States, but still under the command of the NATO combat force to secure the area that has been in the Ukraine Eastern flank means. In two and a half years, the target strength should be achieved through recurring units from Germany. The Lithuanians have had no good experiences with German boots. During the Second World War, the Wehrmacht kept the country occupied before the Germans were driven out by the Red Army. But the liberators became occupiers, Lithuania fell like the Baltic neighbors Latvia and Estonia under Soviet rule.
Lithuania is enthusiastic about German soldiers
While the Lithuanians fear the descendants of the later occupiers, the descendants of the previous ones can hardly save themselves from affection. Lithuania loves Germany, stands at the front on the scoreboard of the city buses. A heart stands for love. The soldiers from Germany report with shining eyes that people on the street thank them. In German. They say that they are of course in uniform. Nobody looks weird, spit out or accuses them of being a murderer. « Dear German soldiers, with an open heart and sincere gratitude, I turn to them, » says Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda in his speech during the military appeal. He speaks the words in German.
Around the central square of the capital, the Bundeswehr and other NATO armies have risen heavy war equipment. Weapon show. Haubitzen, rifle armor, fighter tank, pioneering tank and spy vehicles are on the wide street. Elementary school classes bounce in between, swivel German and Lithuanian flags. A mother lifts her little girl on the green steel of a tank shaft 2000. She holds the moment with her cell phone. A German pensioner couple from Heidelberg also watch the war device. « The grandma on the tank », bursts out of her husband as she climbs onto the tavern. « No one believes that. We come from the peace movement, » he says in astonishment. You came to Lithuania with your circle of friends. When booking the trip, nothing knew about the list of the German-Litauer Brigade. Some of the group had no desire for the military, but the two did not want to miss the appeal. « Europe now has to show that we defend freedom together. »
Bundeswehr in Lithuania: The war in Ukraine is not that far away
One sits in the shade who does exactly that. The main team from northern Germany – very blonde, very large – was no further than 50 kilometers from the border with Russia during exercises. He says that the comrades sometimes become thoughtful how quickly maneuvers in Lithuania could become fatal serious. Most of the time they displace it, but every now and then it penetrates. Even the thickest steel can be torn. Russia and Ukraine have lost thousands of armored vehicles during the war. The losses of wounded and fallen go to hundreds of thousands. The barracks, which the majority of the Bundeswehr soldiers are supposed to record, is only 30 kilometers from the Belarusian border. Belarus is firmly part of the Wladimir Putin’s power area.
Patrick M. He looks in front of a rifle armor. He looks like how to imagine a soldier. Wide stature and sporty, the face tanned. The hair under the beret is briefly crazy. He has been with the federal government for 20 years and he will probably do service in Lithuania soon in the new brigade. His Panzergrenadier Battalion from Oberviechtach in Bavaria becomes an integral part of the large association. « The people here are really grateful that we are here, » he also says. At home in the barracks the mood is so half. Some of the comrades absolutely want to go to the eastern flank, where there should be no equipment defects and modern rooms. More soldiers are also paid. The group moves their best material there, the soldiers are housed in a new barracks that are currently being built. Another part does not want to get out of Germany, be it out of fear or because they have family with children.
So far, recruitment has been going well. According to the Bundeswehr, there were 1800 applicants on the 500 positions in the rod that the brigade is currently setting up. Voluntariness should remain the outstanding principle, but if well -rehearsed combat units are ordered, the soldiers must also expect a marching order. Your families should be able to bring them. Kindergartens and schools are built.
Those who already serve the brigade today took apartments in Vilnius. The children can go to kindergarten or school. « It was not a problem and rents are really affordable, » says a soldier’s wife. She came to the cathedral square with her little son.
The man who came up with the brigade and prevailed against resistance has also been set up. « We are proud, I am proud that we are standing by side, » Defense Minister Boris Pistorius calls the men and women who have taken up in front of him. « Let me say that Germany loves Lithuania ». The love for the German soldiers is still quite different in both countries.
