(ANSA) - BELGRADE, FEB 12 - The German army is short on volunteers for the two-year service in the brigade stationed in Lithuania, Der Spiegel weekly magazine revealed. While there are enough applicants for officers, there is a shortage of non-commissioned officers, which is causing concern in the Bundeswehr, given that Defence Minister Boris Pistorius promised to send only volunteer soldiers to Lithuania. Spiegel has seen internal Ministry of Defence documents from late January 2026 that show 1,971 soldiers would be required to meet the needs of the Lithuanian brigade, which includes artillerymen, reconnaissance, engineers, and support troops. So far, only 209 soldiers have shown up, accounting for "about 10%" of the required volunteers. (ANSA).