The German armored brigade in Lithuania, which will have 5,000 soldiers by 2027, is The first permanent German unit deployed abroad since planet War II.
It is besides the most prominent sign of the extraordinary return of the country, which after 1990 full benefited from the peace dividend, protecting itself under the American umbrella, while his own army collapsed and the trade ties with Russia tightened.
This time they were invited. On May 22, locals cheered at the sight of German tanks passing through the streets of Vilnius, the capital LithuaniaOnce occupied by the Nazis. City buses showed homage to the brotherly ties connecting NATO allies.
Nevertheless, erstwhile the Bundeswehr orchestra performed the march “Preussens Gloria” [‘Glory of Prussia’], any German dignitaries gathered at the inauguration of the 45th armored brigade felt a slight anxiety. Only seeing the radiant faces of Lithuanian counterparts allowed them to enjoy the spectacle.
The decision to send soldiers to Lithuania was taken in 2023 under ‘Zeitenwende’, i.e. ‘return point’ in safety policywhich was initiated by the then Chancellor Olaf Scholz After Russia's invasion of Ukraine. According to the Stockholm global Institute for Peace Research, moving a spending programme worth EUR 100 billion (PLN 424 billion) made Germany presently have the world's 4th largest defence budget.
It's not over. fresh Government — backed by a fresh decision to soften the alleged German debt brake, or fiscal safety vest, plans to further increase defence spending. Indeed, arms are to become his primary mission.
NATO Key Pillar
Chancellor Friedrich Merz announces that he intends to make the Bundeswehr "the strongest conventional army in Europe". He besides signalled that Germany is aiming for a fresh long-term goal of 3.5% of its GDP plus 1.5% of its related infrastructure, which, at the current level of production, would mean 215 billion euro (912 billion PLN) per year.
Like the Lithuanians, almost all German allies are delighted by Berlin's late commitment to European security. Germany itself, although not without any historical dilemmas, is besides heading in this direction.
The Scholz Fund has mostly "filled holes", as General Carsten Breuer, chief of the armed forces, said, but there is inactive much to be done. The forthcoming expenditure wave will aim to strengthen the function of Germany as a "key pillar" of NATO. Priorities are strengthening air defence, complementing ammunition stocks and building long-distance precision impact capabilities.
The officials' priorities are clear. “Time is crucial,” says German military Gen. Alfons Mais, encouraging German defence industry to focus on mass production. Experts are skeptical about building national or European manufacture at the expense of ready-made solutions from another countries, specified as the US, in the name of ‘strategic autonomy’. “If we encounter delays or supply problems in the country, it is better to take a broader approach and see who can supply us with the equipment needed,” says Mais.
Some fear that Germany do not learn from the experience of Ukrainewhere swarms were utilized dronesThat made the battlefields under constant supervision. “The technology in Germany is amazing,” says Nico Lange, a erstwhile defence ministry official. “ But politicians don’t know how to usage it,” he adds.
Overburdened by formalities
No 1 wants to wage war by gathering supplies of drones that rapidly become obsolete. However, planners must guarantee that Germany does not become excessively dependent on older systems. “We request a market-oriented manufacture that innovates, fails in 1 place and succeeds in another, utilizing private capital,” says Gundbert Scherf, co-director-general of Helsing, a start-up dealing with land, air and sea systems based on artificial intelligence.
BERND VON JUTRCZENKA / AFPGerman Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Berlin, 11 June 2025.
Modernization of the Bundeswehr besides means Fight against slow bureaucracy in the field of planning and procurement. erstwhile Merz proposed to change the debt brake, he said he would do "what is necessary" to defend peace and freedom in Europe. However, beginning cocks with money inevitably reduces the force on reform,” says Claudia Major of Think Tank German Marshall Fund.
The national Chamber of Auditors of Germany has late called for "far-reaching changes" in the Bundeswehr, which in its opinion has become "overburdened" by management. Many experts share this analysis. “ Orders last besides long,” laments Mais. — Signing a contract is 1 thing, and delivering equipment to soldiers is another..
It is frequently heard complaining that Germany idealizes its processes, imposing burdensome requirements, specified as ensuring that tanks are suitable for pregnant women. “The current 80% solution is better than the 100% solution in 5 years,” says Matthias Wachter, head of safety policy in the German manufacture Federation. German IRIS-T air defence system, which has proven its worth in Ukraine, is nevertheless inactive being tested for home use.
The task of overcoming these obstacles lies with the Minister of Defence Boris Pistoriuswhose direct way of expressing himself has made him Germany's most popular policy. Nevertheless, not everyone is convinced that he has adequate patience to face seriously the bureaucracy of the Bundeswehr.
— She is the best minister we have had in years, says Sara Nanni, associate of the Green organization in the Bundestag Defence Committee. “ But it can be a small superficial, ” he adds. The fresh law called ‘Planungs— und Beschaffungsbeschleunigungsgesetz’ aims to mitigate certain provisions. However, adjustment of the strategy alone may not be enough.
Approach to the Army
Are the Germans ready to prepare for the war as Pistorius requested? Scholz was afraid of renewal social breakdowns From the Times COVID-19 pandemic In a country that continues to be skeptical about military power. The erstwhile Chancellor was cautious in his statements and hesitated to assist Ukraine. Merz speaks in a harsher tone. The remnants of the old attitude are inactive visible, for example in the form of a voluntary ban on the admission of government funds for military research, which applies at respective twelve universities.
The Major fears that if Ukraine is forced into a "dirty ceasefire", the momentum of fresh years may be lost and calls for diplomacy and relaxation in relations with Russia will choice up the pace.
So far, possibly due to the fact that bypassing the debt brake allowed Germany to avoid choosing between arms and social expenditure, voters mostly support change. The attitude towards the army is besides changing. Soldiers are amazed at the respect they enjoy in everyday life. “ Sometimes erstwhile I’m on the street, people halt me to thank me for my service, just like in the United States! ” says 1 of the cadets.
However, a more hard test will come erstwhile Germany launches a serious debate on Restoring military conscriptionwho has been suspended in government Angela Merkel In 2011, the Bundeswehra is hard to accomplish a number of soldiers above 180 000, which deviates importantly from the current mark of 203 000. Given its commitments to NATO, Breuer considers that until 2029. Germany will request 100,000 extra soldiers, including reservists.
For now, the Merza government hopes to accomplish this goal through compulsory surveys for 18-year-old men (the extension of surveys on women would require a revision of the constitution). This will at least give time to rebuild the decaying barracks and hire military instructors needed by the larger army. However, almost no 1 believes that the component of coercion will be avoided. “I am absolutely convinced that this debate will take place,” says Mais. Public opinion polls show that most Germans are in favour of re-establishing the military. Support is the lowest, which is not a surprise, among young people.
FOCKE STRANGMANN / AFPExercises of the German Army, Osterholz-Scharmbeck, 28 June 2025.
Long way
Various German problems were expressed during the fresh Zeitenwende on Tour event in Gorlitz, a city in east Germany, located on the border with Poland, where almost half of the voters support the far right, pro-Russian organization Alternative to Germany. A erstwhile defence officer, Lange, led a discussion on arms before a controversial audience.
Some were angry to blame NATO for the war in Ukraine or to make remarks against arms producers. Others opposed these opinions. Andre, a infirmary individual who came from Dresden to support the thought of re-armament, claims that this issue divides his colleagues in a proportion of 50:50.
— The government should have done so from the beginning, says Lange. He's been making his appeals for 3 years. This is simply a tedious work, especially as Germany is presently being asked to sacrifice to another countries. In Vilnius, Merz said that “the safety of Lithuania is besides our security”.
This clear message about his country's commitments to NATO besides means hard requirements towards average Germans. possibly it is only now that this message begins to scope the audience.
