BERLIN/VILNIUS – According to information from the German newspaper Bild, Germany is preparing to use mandatory conscription for the German brigade that is being established in Lithuania. The reason is a lack of volunteers, through whom it has not yet been possible to fill the planned troop levels. The first soldiers who are required to serve may be sent to Lithuania as early as this fall.
According to Bild, the German Ministry of Defense plans to launch a recruitment campaign at the end of September. Its goal is to recruit up to 1,000 soldiers who would be enlisted on a mandatory basis. However, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius already admitted in June that it may be necessary to resort to conscription to fill the German brigade in Lithuania. At that time, he spoke of a number less than 1,000 soldiers.
The Bundeswehr brigade in Lithuania is part of a long-term effort to strengthen NATO's military presence on the eastern flank of the alliance. Its planned goal is to reach a troop strength of approximately 4,800 soldiers by the end of 2027. Germany aims to strengthen NATO's defense capabilities in the Baltic states and at the same time create a unit capable of long-term deployment directly within the territory of an allied member state.
According to Bild, approximately 60 percent of the planned positions have so far been filled by volunteers. Another roughly 20 percent is expected to be filled through mandatory service, according to current plans. However, the German Ministry of Defense aims to gradually reduce the proportion of soldiers enlisted on a mandatory basis to approximately ten percent.
The shortage of personnel does not only affect regular soldiers. According to cited information, the Bundeswehr also lacks specialists in information technology, logistics, and cooks. These professions are just as important for the functioning of the brigade as the combat units themselves, because they ensure its technical operation, supply, and day-to-day operations.
A possible mandatory deployment of soldiers to Lithuania could spark further political debate in Germany about the nature of military service and the country's obligations to NATO. At the same time, Berlin is striving to significantly strengthen the German armed forces and is looking for ways to ensure sufficient personnel for new defense tasks. The situation surrounding the Lithuanian brigade shows that, in addition to financial resources and modern technology, a shortage of qualified soldiers remains a fundamental problem for European armies.