According to internal documents reported by “Welt am Sonntag” and documenting the situation in mid-June, the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) currently lacks nearly 2,000 soldiers needed to establish the brigade that will be permanently stationed in Lithuania.
These documents detail poor personnel recruitment across several units. Some affected units have achieved less than 30 percent of their planned staffing levels, while many others fall below 50 percent. Specifically, the communications troops reported a staffing level of just under 40 percent of the target. Among the ten units and brigades assessed, four were classified as “insufficient” and three as “marginal.”
The records indicate that acquiring enlisted soldiers and specialized non-commissioned officers presents a particular challenge across all units and corps. While increased advertising efforts have been successful in some areas, they have not yet covered the demand for volunteers.
However, the Ministry of Defense maintains that the brigade’s setup is proceeding “on schedule.” While stating continued reliance on voluntary enlistment, the ministry acknowledged implementing measures such as creating information flyers and establishing a hotline for interested individuals. It noted that if necessary, compulsory measures might be taken, although no definitive assessment of the required scale for such measures is currently possible.
The ultimate goal for the Bundeswehr is to have roughly 4,800 soldiers permanently assigned to the Lithuanian brigade by 2027. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) suggested that due to the priority of operational readiness, not all positions will likely be filled exclusively by volunteers. In line with NATO requirements, 90 percent of these positions must be operational by the planned deployment period in 2027.
