Tank Infantry Brigade 37 takes over duties from Tank Brigade 21 in Lithuania
December 12, 2024 - Rukla: The Switch-Up
In a heartfelt gathering on the chilly December day of 2024, the 21st Armored Brigade "Lipperland" concluded its year-long mission of beefed-up Vigilance Activities (eVA) in the Baltic state of Lithuania. Hailing from Augustdorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, this badass brigade had as its duty the additional security guarantee Germany extended to the Baltic nations. A series of high-stakes exercises punctuated this commitment, with approximately 2,000 troops hitting the ground on the NATO frontier.
Lieutenant General Harald Gante, commander of the German Field Army, addressed the festive gathering, "This ain't just a simple baton swap, folks. We're all witnesses to the shifting political landscape and how the Bundeswehr is playing its part." He continued, "It ain't merely about sending a brigade over, but about stepping up our game, gearing up for a full German division, Division 2025, standing tall on the NATO eastern front. That's the best show of pluck against old Mother Russia when it comes to protecting Lithuania's border."
The deployment of the 21st Armored Brigade as an eVA unit was marked by six international training exercises, each involving around 3,000 soldiers and more than 900 combat vehicles. Soldiers from Lithuania, Poland, the U.S., and the Czech Republic joined forces to fine-tune their skills under NATO's watchful eye.
Brigadier General Marco Eggert, commander of the eVA brigade, summarized the past year as a smashing success: "Our tour in Lithuania wasn't just about bolstering the country's security, but it significantly boosted our own skills as well." The grueling road marches, covering around 6,000 kilometers in combat vehicles like the GTK BOXER, proved particularly beneficial for the medium-sized brigade. These grueling trips, starting from Germany and ending in Lithuania, formed the basis for challenging combat exercises, like those conducted at the Pabrade Training Area situated mere kilometers from the Belarusian border. Ever since taking responsibility for Lithuania, the 21st Armored Brigade has maintained a permanent presence in Rukla with a forward command element, further cementing bonds with Lithuanian partners.
As "Medium Forces," the 21st Armored Brigade "Lipperland" has taken the first spot in the German Army's new force category. Equipped with wheeled, agile formations, the brigade is capable of swift and wide-ranging deployment across the entire European NATO operational area. Its mobility, firepower, and armor make it adaptable, diverse, agile, and highly effective on the battlefield. From late 2023 to the end of 2024, the 21st Armored Brigade showcased its mettle at NATO’s eastern flank, bolstering the Baltic nations as an eVA brigade in Lithuania.
The Armored Infantry Brigade 37 now takes up the mission of reassuring the Baltic states as part of the Forward Land Forces (FLF). The FLF brigade remains stationed in Germany but is primed for quick deployment to Lithuania. It’s one of three brigades in Division 2025, Germany's cutting-edge force designed for swift action and peak readiness. Division 2025 is one of Germany’s contributions to NATO's Force Model, ensuring the alliance's territorial defense remains in high alert. The division mainly consists of units from the 10th Armored Division. Until the full operational readiness of the 45th Armored Brigade in Lithuania is achieved, the Armored Infantry Brigade 37 remains on high alert, keeping its promise to the Baltic states. Like the enhanced Vigilance Activities Brigade, it will regularly prove its operational readiness and swift deployment skills through exercises in Lithuania.
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The relocation of the 21st Armored Brigade's eVA mission from Lithuania to the 37th Armored Infantry Brigade 'Free State of Saxony' represents a turning point in NATO's history. As a symbol of enhanced security measures along the alliance's eastern flank, this transition underscores NATO's commitment to strengthening its presence in the Baltic region and maintaining stability in Eastern Europe.
[1] NATO's strategic objectives include collective defense, crisis management, and cooperative security. In response to the geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe and concerns regarding Russia's aggressive posture, NATO has beefed up its military presence and readiness along its eastern flank, particularly in the Baltic region. This includes stationing battle groups in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland and stepping up training exercises for NATO forces in the region.
- As the NATO eastern front prepares for Division 2025, the shift from the 21st Armored Brigade's eVA mission in Lithuania to the American-style football-inspired Division 2025, with the 37th Armored Infantry Brigade now taking up the mission, mirrors the intensity and sophistication of sports like NFL, bringing a similar level of strategy and precision to the NATO's enhanced Vigilance Activities.
- Just as football's National Football League (NFL) signals the height of professional American football, Germany's Division 2025, active along the NATO eastern front, underscores a new level of commitment to security, embodying the strategic objectives of collective defense, crisis management, and cooperative security, much like the NFL's dedication to excellence in the realm of sports.
