The Bundeswehr has joined efforts to strengthen Poland’s borders with Russia and Belarus
This was reported by the Bundeswehr Operational Command. The General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces has also confirmed the participation of German troops.
What the German military will be building
Bundeswehr engineering units are helping to fortify the border area in northern Poland as part of the national ‘Eastern Shield’ programme.
Together with the Polish military, German specialists will dig anti-tank trenches, install engineering and wire barriers, erect field fortifications and set up combat positions.
The work covers areas near the Suwałki Corridor. This is the territory between Russia’s Kaliningrad Oblast and Belarus, through which Poland’s land link with Lithuania and the other Baltic states runs.
In the event of a military conflict, the fortifications are intended to slow the enemy’s advance and give Polish and NATO forces more time to respond.
How many troops has Germany deployed?
German forces arrived in Poland in stages. The contingent’s command began operations on 22 June 2026, and from 29 June, around 15 military personnel were conducting reconnaissance of the area.
The main body of the reinforced engineering platoon arrived in early July. The Polish General Staff reported that, in total, several dozen German military personnel with specialist equipment had been deployed to the mission.
The contingent comprises army engineers, logistics specialists and military medics. The Polish side emphasised that the mission is of a training and engineering nature, does not involve participation in combat operations, and that the German military personnel are in the country unarmed.
The work is planned to be carried out in several phases until October 2026. If necessary, the Bundeswehr mission may be extended.
What the ‘Eastern Shield’ programme entails
Poland launched the programme in 2024 following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It involves the construction of defence infrastructure along the borders with Belarus and Russia’s Kaliningrad Oblast.
The programme is scheduled to run from 2024 to 2028. The Polish government has allocated around 10 billion zlotys for its implementation.
In addition to physical barriers and field fortifications, the project involves the creation of surveillance systems, secure communications and counter-drone measures. Poland is also coordinating its defence infrastructure with Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. The “Eastern
Shield” remains a national programme of Poland, whilst the Bundeswehr’s participation is a form of assistance from a NATO ally.
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