Misconduct Probe: German Troops Sent Home From NATO Deployment In Lithuania

Germany's defence ministry has said it has ordered a platoon stationed in Lithuania as part of a NATO mission to return home immediately amid allegations of serious misconduct.

The ministry said the allegations included sexual harassment, insults with possible racist or anti-semitic connotations, and "extremist behaviour".

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

About 30 soldiers were being repatriated, and the main suspects faced possible immediate dismissal from the military, Ms Routsi said.

She said it was also discovered during the investigation that 569 rounds of ammunition had gone missing.

German defence minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer has vowed to act firmly against extremism in the military.

Last year, she disbanded a company of special forces in which she said a culture of right-wing extremism had been allowed to develop behind a "wall of secrecy".