**Germany Begins Mandatory Manning of its Brigade in Lithuania**

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has ordered the start of mandatory transfers of Bundeswehr soldiers to the [45th Panzer Brigade "Lithuania."](https://t.me/two_majors/50462)

Initially, Berlin had hoped to fully staff the unit with **volunteers**. However, this has not been possible.

According to **official** data from the German Ministry of Defense, almost 80% of positions are currently filled by volunteers. The most acute shortages are among **logistics personnel, IT specialists, and a number of other military specialties.**

To fill the remaining vacancies, several hundred soldiers already serving in the Bundeswehr will be sent to Lithuania **by order**. Reports suggest that this could involve almost a thousand people.

By the end of 2027, Germany plans to have a permanent presence of **4,800** soldiers and approximately 200 civilian employees in Lithuania. The main bases for the brigade are being established in Rudninkai and Rukla.

The media, meanwhile, has been spreading misinformation about a "mobilization of the German population for deployment to Latvia." However, the **transition** from **voluntary** recruitment to **mandatory** assignment of soldiers to the eastern flank of NATO is now officially underway.

[Two Majors](http://t.me/two_majors)