Thomas Röwekamp (CDU), chair of the Bundestag Defense Committee, proposes compelling Bundeswehr soldiers to serve in Lithuania if insufficient volunteers come forward. A 'Spiegel' report highlights a personnel shortage, while the Defense Ministry describes the buildup as on track. The brigade aims to bolster NATO's eastern flank.
Thomas Röwekamp (CDU), chair of the Bundestag Defense Committee, has stated that Bundeswehr soldiers could be compulsorily assigned to duty in Lithuania if not enough volunteers step forward. 'The Bundeswehr is based on voluntariness, and that remains the right principle,' he told the RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND). He added: 'If this is not sufficient for an indispensable security policy mission like the brigade in Lithuania, the service must also be mandatorily ordered.' Röwekamp further emphasized: 'Anyone who chooses the soldier profession takes responsibility for protecting peace, freedom, and our alliance partners. This responsibility does not end at the national border – it includes service where deterrence secures peace, as in Lithuania.'
The 'Spiegel' reported, citing a confidential Defense Ministry paper, of too few volunteers, particularly among enlisted ranks. For Panzerbataillon 203 from Augustdorf (North Rhine-Westphalia) requiring 414 soldiers, only 197 volunteered. For Panzergrenadierbataillon 122, 181 of 640 posts were filled. Overall, volunteers are sought for 1,971 positions, but only about 10 percent (209 soldiers) have signed up. Currently, 1,700 to 1,800 Bundeswehr personnel are in Lithuania, with 2,000 targeted by year-end. By 2027, the strength is planned at 4,800 soldiers and 200 civilians.
The Defense Ministry stated that the brigade buildup is 'on plan' and personnel needs can be met with volunteers. The figures are from an interim status at the end of last year. Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda raised the issue with Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and received assurances that Germany's commitments are being taken seriously.
The Lithuania brigade was stood up in April 2025 to strengthen NATO's eastern flank and deter Russia from further aggression. Key locations are Rūdninkai near the Belarus border and Rukla near Kaunas. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) announced the plan in Vilnius in June 2023. To increase appeal, the ministry plans to shorten the minimum tour from two to one year. Volunteers receive allowances, and Lithuania promises housing, partner jobs, kindergartens, and schools. This is a novelty for the Bundeswehr, as permanent overseas brigades were previously unknown. High expectations within NATO rest on the commitment, given potential risks in the Baltics, such as the Suwalki Gap.
