Germany's new Lithuania brigade may require conscription, Pistorius warns during first major exercise

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius observed the first major exercise of Panzerbrigade 45 in Lithuania on Monday, warning that conscription could be used to fill specialist positions if voluntary recruitment falls short. The exercise, named "Freedom Shield", involved around 2,900 soldiers from eight NATO states and took place just 20 kilometres from the border with Belarus.

The exercise "Freedom Shield"

The drill at the Pabradė training ground is the first large-scale test of the brigade, which Germany pledged after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It simulated defending against a Russian attack, with Dutch and Norwegian forces acting as the opponent. The exercise deployed around 800 vehicles, more than 300 drones, and involved main battle tanks, fighter jets and helicopters. The scenario incorporated lessons from the war in Ukraine, notably the use of loitering munitions and the threat from persistent aerial surveillance.

“Freedom Shield shows how future land warfare will look. I'm really impressed.”

Brigadier General Christoph Huber, commander of the brigade, called the exercise "a visible sign of deterrence on NATO's eastern flank" and said at least two exercises of this scale would be held each year. The brigade currently has 75 main battle tanks and 70 infantry fighting vehicles at its disposal.

Staffing gaps and the conscription threat

Pistorius told German public broadcaster ARD that he expects 90 to 95 percent of soldiers to volunteer, but shortages are emerging in specialised areas such as logistics, IT and CBRN defence. The recruitment pool for those roles is much smaller than for combat arms. If voluntary numbers are insufficient, he said, there would first be personal discussions, "and in case of doubt a conscription order will be issued". He repeated that "operational readiness has top priority".

“We will ensure they receive their mission at the right time in the right place. And we will be ready by the end of 2027. Period.”

Lieutenant General Christian Freuding, the German Army inspector, stressed that an army does not function solely through voluntary service and that soldiers are accustomed to being ordered to where they are needed.

A permanent footprint on the eastern flank

The stationing of Panzerbrigade 45 is the Bundeswehr's first permanent deployment of a large formation abroad. By the end of 2027, it is to reach full combat readiness with around 4,800 soldiers and 200 civilian staff. Currently about 1,800 German troops are stationed in Lithuania.

“The security of Lithuania is also our security. The protection of Vilnius is the protection of Berlin.”

Chancellor Friedrich Merz made that statement during the brigade's official raising ceremony in Vilnius in May 2025.

Infrastructure near the Belarus border

The brigade's main base is being built near Rudninkai, a village of 500 inhabitants, roughly 35 kilometres from Vilnius and close to the Belarus border. The site was declared a military training area in a special law passed in May 2022, shortly after Russia's full-scale attack on Ukraine. The base will include barracks, ammunition depots, logistics facilities and maintenance halls for tanks and combat vehicles, located about 1.5 kilometres from the village centre.

Lithuanian Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas pledged that his country would do everything necessary to provide the military and civilian infrastructure for German soldiers.

Timeline of the brigade's development