December 12, enhanced Vigilance Activity Brigades (eVA Brig LTU) changed over at a ceremony in Rukla. Commander of the Field Army of the Bundeswehr Lieutenant General Harald Gante handed over the Forward Land Forces (FLF) mission credentials to the 37th Mechanized Infantry Brigade Freistaat Sachsen.
Approximately 2000 of the 21st Armored Brigade Lipperland troops under command of Brigadier General Marco Eggert are ending their deterrence mission in the eastern flank of NATO on December 31.
“Our mission has not just helped to strengthen Lithuania’s security but also significantly increased our own capability,” said Commander of the outgoing 21st Armored Brigade Brigadier General Marco Eggert. “WE really value the operational experience of complex sea, air and land redeployment of forces. The process of moving forces begins in homebases in Germany and ends in Lithuania, 2000 kilometers apart. Complex combat training events in the PAbrad4 Training Area and countrywide has developed our ability to move fighting vehicles, for example the Boxer IFVs.”
The incoming 37th Mechanized Infantry Brigade Freistaat Sachsen is a highest operational readiness Bundeswehr brigade kept on standby prepared to be moved to Lithuania anytime until the 45th Armored Brigade Litauen stationed in Lithuania has reached Full Operational Capability.
On the eve of the Hand Over-Take Over ceremony Commander of the Lithuanian Land Force Brigadier General Artūras Radvilas met with Inspector of the German Army Lieutenant General Alfons Mais and Commander of the Royal Netherlands Army Lieutenant General Jan Renger Swillens. Commander Lithuanian Land Force briefed the partners on the Lithuanian division development and Land Force activity plans, Generals discussed regional security and other relevant military cooperation themes. Inspector of the German Army Lieutenant General Alfons Mais presented to Commander Lithuanian Land Force Brigadier General Artūras Radvilas the Gold Cross of Honor of the Bundeswehr for his significant personal contribution in developing partnership between the Lithuanian Land Force and the Bundeswehr.
The German eVA Brigade has been on standby in Lithuania since 2022. It trains moving forces and conducts other exercises in demonstration of the tight cooperation between NATO Allies. Major part of the eVA Brigade carries out the standby in Germany, while the Forward Command Element in Lithuania maintains readiness to facilitate rapid arrival of capabilities to Lithuania if needed.
