German Army to Deploy Conscripts to Lithuania Amid Volunteer Shortage

Published on 14/09/2026 – 19:00 GMT+2•Updated 19:06

The German military will begin assigning soldiers to the German brigade stationed in Lithuania through compulsory postings, as it struggles to fill volunteer positions.

The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the first troops could be ordered to serve in Lithuania from the end of September, potentially affecting up to 1,000 Bundeswehr personnel.

By the end of 2027, the 45th Panzer Brigade is slated to grow to approximately 4,800 German soldiers and be permanently based in Lithuania, on NATO’s eastern flank. The brigade’s main base will be located in Rūdninkai, about 30 kilometres from Belarus.

Bild was the first to report the planned compulsory assignments. The ministry stated that almost 80 % of the posts are currently filled by volunteers, and that “according to current forecasts… the proportion of compulsory appointments is expected to be in the mid three‑figure range.” It emphasized that maintaining operational readiness is the top priority while taking service members’ personal interests into account.

Germany’s Defence Committee will be briefed on Monday about the next steps. Soldiers subject to a compulsory posting will receive additional notice and will have the opportunity to challenge the decision in court.

Euronews accompanied two soldiers from Panzer Battalion 203 during the “Freedom Shield” exercise last June. Their battalion is scheduled to redeploy to NATO’s eastern flank by the end of 2027. Battalion commander Lieutenant Colonel Oliver Kaufmann said that “Panzer Battalion 203 actually has a very high proportion of volunteers” and that the majority of his soldiers are willing to go to Lithuania voluntarily.

Forces already stationed in Lithuania, including the multinational battlegroup that has been there since 2017, are operating at about a 92 % staffing rate. Panzer Battalion 203 and Panzergrenadier Battalion 122 are not due to move to Lithuania until 2027, and roughly 40 % of the required personnel for those units remain unfilled.

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