German troops are now based in a frontline position in Lithuania as a permanent deployment, the first time this has occurred on foreign territory since the Nazis did so during World War II. Yesterday, German Brigadier General Christoph Huber, the commander of the 45th Armored Brigade, stated at the ceremony outside Vilnius: “We have a clear mission. We have to ensure the protection, freedom, and security of our Lithuanian allies here on NATO’s eastern flank.” This is according to the German Bundeswehr Association. Huber echoed the previous statement of Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius: “With this war-ready brigade, we’re taking on leadership responsibility on NATO’s Eastern flank.”