February 4, the Lithuanian Armed Forces Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf transferred the colors of the NATO Multinational Battlegroup to the German 45th Armored Brigade Litauen at a ceremony at the Confluence Park in Kaunas. After nine years of service as part of a Lithuanian unit, the NATO Multinational Battlegroup has been transferred to the command and composition of the German Brigade.
“Transfer of command of the NATO Multinational Battlegroup to the German 45th Armored Brigade Litauen is a clear sign of NATO unity, Allied resolve ad long-term commitment to Lithuania’s defence. NATO unity is key in the security environment of today, while every Allied servicemember deployed in our country makes Lithuania’s security stronger,” said Chief of Defence of Lithuania General Raimundas Vaikšnoras.
The ceremony began with a Holy Mass at Kaunas Archcathedral Basilica of St. Peter and Paul and blessing of the servicemembers. Next, a formation of approx. 2 thousand Lithuanian and German military personnel marched through the Kaunas Old Town to the Confluence Park with weapons and flags. The transfer of command ceremony began with transfer of the NATO Multinational Battlegroup command to Lieutenant Colonel Sebstian Hagen. Former Battlegroup Commander Lieutenant Colonel Tobias Tiedau was decorated for his merit in strengthening the Battlegroup by Minister of National Defence Robertas Kaunas.
“Today the clearest message to russia is simple: soldiers of the German 45th Armored Brigade Litauen are already here in Lithuania. The German Brigade and NATO Allies enhance security of Lithuania and the whole region side by side with the Lithuanian Armed Forces. The NATO Multinational Battlegroup has officially become a part of the German Brigade in Lithuania as we reach the midway of the Roadmap of stationing the German Brigade of Lithuania,” said Minister of National Defence Robertas Kaunas.
At the ceremony, Commander Lithuanian Land Force Brigadier General Nerijus Stankevičius transferred NATO flag, unit colors of the NATO Multinational Battlegroup Lithuania, to Inspector of the Bundeswehr Army Lieutenant General Christian Freuding. The German General presented the flag to Commander of the German 45th Armored Brigade Litauen Brigadier General Christoph Huber as token of command. The transfer of colors tradition dates back to historical times signifying hand-over of command and responsibility. Unit colors is a symbol of honor, identity and dedication of a unit, which makes transfer of a flag an exceptional sign of trust and unity.
NATO took the decision to deploy forward presence forces in the eastern flank at the NATO Summit in Warsaw in 2016. The first troops of the new NATO unit arrived in Lithuania in 2017. The NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group (NATO eFP BG) served integrated in the Lithuanian Armed Forces Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf. Until today, 18 NATO eFP BG rotations, or over 24 thousand military personnel from Allies Germany, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Iceland, Croatia, Luxembourg, Norway, the Netherlands, and France carried out their training cycles in Lithuania. Germany was the framework nation whose troops contributions were the most extensive and who held the responsibility of command. The responsibility was transferred to another Ally in 2016 to the Netherlands.
The NATO eFP BG was renamed as the NATO Multinational Battlegroup on 5 February 2025. AS before, it is composed of combat companies with heavy equipment, a reconnaissance company, combat support units and the command element. In case of necessity, training or threat, the Multinational Battlegroup can be reinforced with artillery, air defence, engineer and other support, on short notice.
The NATO Multinational Battlegroup’s peacetime training cycle covers combat readiness exercises in Lithuania to enhance force readiness for the defence of Lithuania in case of a crisis or conflict side by side with national and follow-in Allied forces. Every rotation conducts training according to agreed combat readiness plans which culminate in a certification exercise of the whole Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf.
Besides training and exercises in military training areas, there is an important aspect to the NATO enhanced Forward Presence readiness: moving heavy equipment by sea, rail and air. The Allies who supplied rotations to the Battalion-sized battle group in Lithuania has moved in different support vehicles, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers and tanks, aside from light riffles, grenade launchers and antitank systems. The heavy equipment that trained in Lithuania included the Leopard 2 main battle tanks, Marder and Leclerc infantry fighting vehicles, VBCI infantry fighting vehicles, M113 armored personnel carriers of different modifications, PnZ2000 and SPGH-M77 Dana self-propelled artillery systems, Dachs recovery vehicle Bergepanzer armored recovery vehicle, Biber armored bridge-layer, Fuchs armored personnel carrier, Boxer, Puma and CV90 infantry fighting vehicles, Fennek reconnaissance vehicles, cargo and light transport vehicles.
Members of the NATO Multinational Battlegroup were actively participating in community engagements, most major initiatives and city festivals, the commemorative January 13 runs On the Road of Life and Death, In Memoriam runs in honor of the deceased brothers an arms. Allied troops also contribute to blood donation campaigns, help with installations of education, foster care institutions, in-patient nursing facilities, medical equipment donations. Dutch members of the multinational battalion were recognized for assistance in distress with the Lithuanian Armed Forces Warrior Award for saving the life of a young motorcyclist after a traffic accident in Jonava in 2020.
Photo credit: Sgt Spc Karolis Kavolėlis / Lithuanian Armed Forces
