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Germany Pulls Military Unit From Lithuania Amid Racism, Harassment Allegations 


FILE - Soldiers are seen during then-German Minister of Defense Ursula von der Leyen's visit with German troops deployed as part of NATO enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) battle group in Rukla military base, Lithuania, Feb. 4, 2019.
FILE - Soldiers are seen during then-German Minister of Defense Ursula von der Leyen's visit with German troops deployed as part of NATO enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) battle group in Rukla military base, Lithuania, Feb. 4, 2019.

Germany on Wednesday withdrew a platoon of its forces from Lithuania amid charges of serious misconduct.

Allegations include sexual harassment, racially charged comments and “extremist” behavior.

"Particularly in Lithuania, where we stand side-by-side with our NATO partners for common values, such behavior by individuals isn't just completely inexcusable, it's absolutely shameful to us all," Defense Ministry spokesperson Christina Routsi told reporters in Berlin.

The German defense ministry said some 30 troops would be repatriated, adding that if the allegations prove true, some will face immediate dismissal.

"The misconduct of some soldiers in Lithuania is a slap in the face of all those who serve the security of our country day after day in the #Bundeswehr," wrote Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer on Twitter, using the word for Germany's federal armed forces.

Kramp-Karrenbauer has vowed to take a tough stance against extremism in the German military. Last year she disbanded a company of soldiers amid revelations some members held neo-Nazi beliefs.

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