German Soldiers Recalled From NATO In Lithuania For Singing Anti Semitic Songs

Four German soldiers have been recalled from a NATO team in Lithuania for singing anti-Semitic songs and sexual harassment.

German state broadcaster Deutsche Welle said the country’s Ministry of Defence announced the decision on Monday.

The four soldiers, serving in NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP), are accused of sexual harassment and singing anti-Semitic and far right-wing songs in a hotel in late April.

Arvydas Anusauskas, Lithuania’s Defence Minister. (Newsflash)

The incident was reported to a superior by one of the soldiers earlier this month, according to the news site Der Spiegel.

Reports said that several soldiers were victimised by the suspects and one of them even need to be sent back to Germany for psychological assistance.

German MP Alexander Muller said the soldiers’ actions were inexcusable and that a “disciplinary investigation” is needed right away.

NATO German soldiers in Lithuania. (Newsflash)

After Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, eFP teams have been used in rotation in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland.

Germany is responsible for a battalion of around 1,000 soldiers based in Lithuania.

Lithuania’s minister of national defence Arvydas Anusauskas said “we are not being informed about the details of the investigation”, adding that Germany informed the Lithuanian authorities about the soldiers’ withdrawal last week.

German army vehicles in Lithuania. (Newsflash)

Anusauskas said: “We know that it’s about four soldiers, but we cannot confirm any details without the investigation.”

The German Embassy in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius said on Tuesday: “The German Embassy in Vilnius is aware of media reports about a breach of discipline in the German Bundeswehr contingent at NATO’s efP Battle Group in Rukla, Lithuania. A thorough disciplinary investigation by the competent military authorities has been underway for some time. Pending this, four soldiers have already been repatriated.”

The investigation continues.