German President, Troops Join Lithuania’s National Holiday Celebration

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier joined Lithuania’s national holiday celebration on July 6 as the guest of honor of Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda. Underscoring the close ties between the two countries, Lithuanian and German armed forces stood in formation outside the presidential palace in Vilnius.

In a historic milestone, Germany established its first permanent foreign military base since World War ii in Lithuania earlier this year; it will host up to 5,000 German troops.

Lithuania and Germany stand together in defense of freedom for Ukraine, for the principle of self-determination, for European cohesion, as partners within the European Union, as allies within nato. By stationing a German brigade in Lithuania we are making an enduring promise: Your security is our security. This brigade stands for mutual responsibility and proven loyalty within the alliance. For we know that whoever defends Lithuania defends Europe and defends Europe’s values. And you, dear Lithuanians, do this every day.
—Frank-Walter Steinmeier

Dark history: Surveys reveal that 85 percent of Lithuanians welcome the establishment of the brigade. “This is despite the terrible crimes committed by German troops after the occupation of the country in World War ii, when the Jewish population in the ‘Jerusalem of the North’ was almost completely wiped out,” Spiegel Online wrote on July 7.

Germans should be fiercely ashamed of the atrocities they committed. Now they are back in Lithuania and are celebrating it. They act like they know nothing about that history and avoid talking about it. … People ignore history and prophecy, but we are saying something about it. This world had better heed.
—Gerald Flurry, Trumpet editor in chief

Germany’s reviving military relationship with Lithuania is a sign that history is about to repeat itself.

Learn more: Read “Lithuania in Prophecy,” by Gerald Flurry.