More than 6,000 German troops launch double exercise in Lithuania

The 10th Panzer Division tests new loitering munitions as Germany's brigade in the country grows toward full strength by the end of 2027.

More than 6,000 German troops from the 10th Panzer Division begin two exercises in Lithuania, Freedom Shield 26-II and Grand Eagle 26, on 6 November 2026, running until 3 December, and forces from six partner nations in NATO's Multinational Combat Brigade there join them, with a Lithuanian unit.

The exercises come as the German Brigade takes shape in Lithuania, kam.lt reports. New loitering munition systems will be tested for the first time during Freedom Shield 26-II, the German outlet Firmenpresse reports. The German Brigade's presence in Lithuania is set to reach about 2,000 military and civilian members by the end of 2026, kam.lt says. It had already reached about 1,700 by September 2026. On 4 November, Lithuanian Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius signed a Declaration on Strategic Defence Cooperation, which kam.lt reports plans closer defence industry partnerships, acquisitions with interoperable or interchangeable solutions, and EU financing in mind.

The 10th Panzer Division commands the brigades in Lithuania and from its home base in Veitshöchheim, Bavaria, from alerting until all units return. Firmenpresse calls Freedom Shield 26-II the largest Bundeswehr field training exercise in Lithuania yet, Panzerbrigade 45 "Litauen"'s second Freedom Shield of 2026. A central element is a water crossing over the Nemunas River south of Kaunas. The exercise ends with a six-day field phase at Rudninkai.

In parallel with Freedom Shield 26-II, Panzergrenadierbrigade 37 "Freistaat Sachsen" is deploying to Lithuania for Grand Eagle 26, Firmenpresse reports. Until Panzerbrigade 45 "Litauen" is fully established by the end of 2027, the brigade stands ready for NATO as a rapid reaction force. A draft stationing plan, reported by kam.lt, foresees final details agreed at a November Planning Conference. There, the bulk of Panzerbrigade 45 would move in the second half of 2027, fully operationally capable and completely stationed in Lithuania by the end of that year.

In September, ambassador Cornelius Zimmermann called the commitment to complete the transfer set in stone. Filling gaps in the brigade, he said at the time, is a matter of national interest for Germany.