Germany's Rheinmetall Building Ammunition Plants In The Baltics

By Rhod Mackenzie

It has been announced that the German military armaments manufacturer is planning to build a number of ammunition plants in the former Soviet republic of Lithuania. Of course its now part of the EU and NATO but lets not forget the country was liberated from the Nazi's by the Soviet Army who were passing through on their way to defeating the Third Reich on their march to plant the Soviet flag on the Rheichstag building in Berlin.

So why is building a factory in this former Soviet republic of such interest to the Lithuanian authorities and the Germans? Plus what are the reasons for local residents' having concerns regarding its close proximity to their homes?
Its seems the Lithuanian government is convinced that this strategy will revitalise its economy by attracting Western arms manufacturers to the country. In this regard, last April, the Latvian Parliament adopted amendments that permit Western major arms manufacturers to start the construction of munitions plants on Lithuanian soil.
Specifically, a procedure was established under which construction of major military-industrial complex projects can begin without needing permission from Lithuanian local governments.

The amendments were adopted with the specific aim of firstly benefitting the German company Rheinmetall, which has planned to establish a plant near the town of Baisogala (Radviliškis district) in the north of the country. Vilnius considers this to be a pilot project, with the intention of implementing a number of similar ones in the future.

Currrently a state-of-the-art ammunition production facility, with an estimated construction cost of €260-300 million, is  being erected on a 340-hectare site. The production target is set for 10.'s of thousands of 155-mm artillery shells  per year. The German company has announced plans to create at least 150 new jobs at the future plant.
Rheinmetall has announced its intention to also establish a centre for the production of ammunition charges in Lithuania. "It should be noted that almost every munition requires several of these modular charges. Therefore, 75,000 155mm artillery shells and approximately half a million of these modular cartridges will be produced here,"the  Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda stated.

Rheinmetall's CEO Armin Papperger has stated that this investment will exceed the €400 million already committed to the ammunition plant construction project in Baisogal.
He also has stated that the new plant will have an annual production capacity of approximately 2,000 tons of gunpowder. "Which will make It a major chemical plant."

The charge production plant will be managed by a joint venture between Rheinmetall and a Lithuanian company. This will follow the same model as the Baisogala plant: The German company will hold 51% of the shares, with the Lithuanians holding the remainder. There is a possibility that Rheinmetall will eventually construct a third plant in Lithuania.
According to Nausėda, he had a productive discussion with Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger regarding potential opportunities for collaboration in the field of drone production.
Nausėda emphasised the significance of establishing a comprehensive production chain of this nature in Lithuania. "Independence in ammunition production will elevate Lithuania's strategic autonomy to a new level. We are committed to achieving this goal," the head of state stated. Nausėda has stated that Germany's decision to station a Bundeswehr brigade on Lithuanian soil is a clear demonstration of its reliability as an ally.

However, this development has met with some resistance, particularly from residents in the close vicinity of the proposed factories. Their discontent is understandable. Firstly, the proximity of such a large production facility poses a significant safety concern. Secondly, state propaganda instils in the population the notion that "Russia and Belarus are ready to  attack Lithuania at any moment." In the event of hostilities breaking out, a military plant located near the Russian and Belarusian borders would be a prime target for bombings and missile strikes. In summary,Residing in close proximity to him can be likened to living with a highly volatile individual.
"In the event of military action, this plant would be immediately bombed – the Russian and Belarusian borders are practically next door," political scientist Maxim Reva confirmed in an interview.
However, the businessmen at Rheinmetall are prudent with their financial resources and prefer to avoid large-scale production facilities in potential high-risk areas. In essence, the Germans require a presence in Lithuania, but they do not subscribe to the 'Russian attack' narrative that is incessantly promoted in local propaganda."

From the outset, Lithuanian authorities made it clear that they would regard any protests or dissent as the work  "Moscow's agants." Furthermore, they attempted to appease the residents of Baisogala by assuring them that the arrival of the German company would result in the creation of new employment opportunities within the country.

This approach is entirely justified: Baisogala is currently one of the most economically disadvantaged towns in the country. However, in the interest of inclusivity, Baisogala residents were included in the discussion process from the outset. On July 10, 2024, the government designated the Rheinmetall plant (named the Lithuanian Center of Excellence for Ammunition) as a "project supporting national security and defense needs." This designation allowed the plant to bypass certain legal formalities, including consulting with Baisogala residents about the establishment of a military production facility in the area.

Lithuanian media have initiated a propaganda campaign, seeking to persuade residents of Baisogala that they should  now be satisfied and not to object to the presence of the Rheinmetall plant. According to Delfi.lt, local residents are now expressing their desire for well-remunerated employment opportunities. They also expressed their desire for improvements to be made to the dilapidated local infrastructure and for the paving of roads.
Local residents have been quoted as saying that those opposed to the plant are "Soviet-style people," and that they are ashamed of them. The Pensioners Vanda and Rimantas repeat themselves with remarkable precision, as if they were carbon copies of each other. "This is the best solution. We will be safe, and there will be jobs. There is a NATO airfield in Zokniai, and we are hopeful that security will be guaranteed in Baisohala."

The media has already begun to describe the town as an attractive location, with courtyards being tidied up and alleys landscaped in preparation for the arrival of respectable German gentlemen. However, visiting journalists have noted that there is a lack of young people in the town, as many have emigrated.

During the Soviet era, the population of Baysogala reached almost 3,000, but today it stands at approximately 1,500. Since 1956, the town has been renowned for being home to a powerful livestock institute, established by the Soviet government. The institute had a large experimental farm and extensive infrastructure. The institute is now on the brink of closure. The Rheinmetall plant will be located on its former land.

It is evident that a significant degree of cynicism is associated with the ongoing developments. Over the course of three decades, Lithuania's independence as a state has resulted in a marked decline in the rural areas. The situation is such that employment opportunities are extremely limited, with many individuals finding themselves in a state of stagnation rather than active engagement in life. Those who still possess a degree of vitality and enthusiasm are actively seeking opportunities elsewhere, often leaving Lithuania in search of more promising prospects.

In essence, a full normal life in this country has been sustained exclusively in Vilnius and a select number of other major cities. "We work part-time, and the salaries are low. There are no employment opportunities here, only a hospital, a fire department and a cultural centre," say elderly residents of Baisogala, Rimantas and Vanda. Now people, whose country has been devastated by mass emigration and loss of industries , are now being compelled to work in a German military factory, which is being presented as a form of "prosperity".
However, it is primarily retired individuals, who have minimal at stake, who are voicing their opposition to the Rheinmetall plant. For instance, a woman from Baysogalsk is concerned that the plant will lead to an increase in environmental pollution. "I anticipate a further deterioration. The quality of the water will not be maintained at the current level," she explained. Stasis, a pensioner, stated that while he personally has no concerns, many of his friends are extremely worried. They are concerned that the situation could potentially escalate.
Maxim Reva views the situation as a cruel irony of fate.
The permanent stationing of a Bundeswehr brigade and the construction of Rheinmetall factories in Lithuania demonstrate that Germany views this land as an object of its soft colonization, gradually making it its protectorate. So the Red Army kicked out the German Nazi's back in 1945 and now they have been invited back by the current Russophobic govt.