Germany Deploys Troops to Lithuania in First Permanent Mission Since World War II

The new deployment is part of an effort by Berlin to secure NATO’s eastern flank and show that Europe can take on a greater responsibility for its own defense.

Members of the German Bundeswehr's 371st Armoured Infantry Battalion stand in camouflage with sniper rifles during a media event at the battalion's base in Marienberg, Germany on March 10, 2015. Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Germany is deploying troops to Lithuania as part of a wider effort to enhance NATO readiness and assume an increased leadership role within the alliance.

The new deployment is Berlin’s first permanent foreign military mission since World War II, although it has engaged in non-permanent overseas missions, including in support of the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan.