On Thursday, November 19, 2026, eight new battalions will be formed in the Army. In addition to six battalions for the expansion of homeland security, the remaining units of Brigade Lithuania, the Panzerbrigade 45, will be formed: Tank Artillery Battalion 455, Supply Battalion 456, as well as the Armored Engineer Company 45 and the Reconnaissance Company 45. The Center for Digitalization of the Land will also be brought into service.
Thus far, Panzerbrigade 45 comprises the Tank Battalion 203, the Panzergrenadier Battalion 212, and the Multinational Battlegroup Lithuania. For Germany’s homeland defense, six new battalions are to be formed: No. 111 in Fürstenfeldbruck (Bavaria), 112 in Sigmaringen (Baden-Württemberg), 121 in Münster (North Rhine-Westphalia), 131 in Friedberg (Hesse), 132 in Kusel (Rhineland-Palatinate) and 141 in Trollenhagen (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern). For housing, some former Bundeswehr facilities are currently being reactivated.
Formation Ceremony in the ‘Capital of the German Army’
Going forward, homeland defense battalions will constitute the military home for reservists in their region. The mission of the homeland defense forces includes protecting Germany, supporting civilian authorities, and safeguarding critical infrastructure. The Center for Digitalization of the Land in Munster will be subordinated to the Office of Army Development. In the future, it will further develop land-based digitalization operations (D-LBO), consolidate digitalization competencies and methods, and promote innovations.
The formation ceremony for the new units and formations will also take place in Münster, Lower Saxony, the ‘Capital of the German Army.’ In addition to the Federal Minister of Defense, Boris Pistorius, the Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, General Carsten Breuer, and the Commanding General of the United States Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR), Major General Christopher R. Norrie, are expected.
