Germany will send dozens of soldiers and support units to Poland in Operation Shield East, beginning in the second quarter of 2025, to construct fortifications along the border with Kaliningrad and Belarus.
Operation Shield East Deployment
Germany will deploy dozens of soldiers and support units to Poland under Operation Shield East, starting in Q2 2025, to build defensive positions and fortifications along the Kaliningrad‑Belarus border.
The main tasks for German engineers will include constructing positions, trenches, barbed‑wire obstacles, and anti‑tank berms.
Bundeswehr Strengthens NATO’s Eastern Flank
German officials confirmed the deployment during a meeting with Poland’s defence minister and the German defence ministry, emphasizing that the mission does not require Bundestag approval since it does not involve armed forces abroad posing a direct danger to soldiers.
Four German fighter squadrons have also been positioned at a Polish airbase in Malbork to protect the eastern NATO airspace.
Goal: Deter Russia
The German defence minister states that the presence of troops and combined military capacity will create a strong border wall to discourage a Russian or Belarusian attack on Polish territory.
Germany has already stationed Patriot air defences and Eurofighter jets in Poland.