The ceremony was attended by Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lieutenant General Jonas Vytautas Žukas, Commander of the NATO Multinational Division North-East Brigadier General Krzysztof Motacki, commanders of the Lithuanian Armed Forces’ services, ambassadors and military representatives of eFP contributing countries.
At the ceremony commander of the eFP Battle Group since February Lieutenant Colonel Christoph Huber relinquished to the succeeding commander, Lieutenant Colonel Thorsten Gensler who is the commander of the 371st Mechanised Infantry Battalion of the Bundeswehr 37th Mechanised Infantry Brigade (Panzergrenadierbataillon 371, Panzergrenadierbrigade 37).
Handing over to the new commander, Lt Col Christoph Huber said, “We were on intense military training throughout the six months, we took part in a range of exercises. We are ready to counter any form of aggression alongside the Lithuanian military.”
Thanking the outgoing eFP Commander Lt Col Ch. Huber, Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lt Gen J. V. Žukas stressed that soldiers of the first NATO eFP rotation had provided a unique opportunity for the people of Lithuania to witness the effectiveness of the concept of NATO and the high standard for service. “On behalf of them I thank you for your service and wish you every professional and personal success,” he said.
The Lithuanian Armed Forces Band played various pieces of the militaries contributing to the NATO eFP at the ceremony. When Limburgse Jagers Mars, a march of the Netherlands Armed Forces rang, Dutch soldiers followed a beautiful tradition to spin their berets.
Currently the NATO eFP Battalion Battle Group in Lithuania comprises over 1450 German, 100 Belgian, 250 Dutch, 200 Norwegian and 20 Luxembourg’s soldiers.
In 2017–2018 the NATO enhanced Forward Presence in Lithuania will be provided by Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg, Croatia and France. Germany is the frame work nation of the eFP battalion and also provides its command.
