From November 6 through December 3, the German Bundeswehr will run Exercises Freedom Shield 26-II and Grand Eagle 26. The exercises will train over 6,000 troops from the 45th Armored Brigade Litauen and the 37th Mechanized Infantry Brigade Saxony, both part of the 10th Panzer Division. They will be joined by German, Dutch, Norwegian, Czech, Croatian, Belgian, and Luxembourgish contingents from the NATO Multinational Battle Group Lithuania, as well as a Lithuanian unit.
The 10th Panzer Division of the Bundeswehr, the unit conducting the exercise, will provide command and control for its subordinate units from the point of activation for the exercise and readiness activities to their deployment back to their home bases. Both exercises focus on enhancing combat readiness, refining command and control, operational planning, and improving collaboration with NATO allies Poland and Lithuania.
Exercise Freedom Shield 26-II, directed by the 45th Armored Brigade Litauen, will take place in the Rūdninkai Training Area, while Exercise Grand Eagle 26, conducted by the 37th Mechanized Infantry Brigade Saxony, will be located in the General Silvestras Žukauskas Training Area.
NATO Allied and Lithuanian troops and vehicles will move on the roads throughout the exercise period. Peak traffic is expected on November 6–7 between the Kalvarija Border Crossing Point and the exercise sites, and from Klaipėda to the exercise sites on November 10–12. Military vehicles will return through the same routes after the conclusion of the exercises between November 28 and December 3.
Related image, credit: Lithuanian Armed Forces
