Luxembourg's little-known role in the outbreak of World War I

It’s a story you might not have heard before.

The invasion didn't go as expected. Within just thirty minutes of their arrival, the German troops retreated across the border after sabotaging a telegraph and about 150 meters of railroad. What led to this swift withdrawal?

Listen to the podcast episode here – including learning more about the young men fighting for the allies and what life was like for the ordinary Luxembourgers under German occupation, with tales of assassination attempts, resistance, and starvation.

Or continue reading below!

Origins of the confusion

The German Empire’s accidental invasion of Luxembourg was the result of the incredibly complex series of events that culminated in the outbreak of the First World War.

Following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand on 28 June 1914, the major powers spent a month deliberating their responses. On 28 July 1914, the Austro-Hungarian Empire declared war on Serbia. In response, Austria-Hungary’s ally Germany declared war on Russia on 1 August 1914, due to Tsar Nicholas II’s support for Serbia.

This decision had significant implications for Luxembourg, as Germany began implementing the Schlieffen Plan, which aimed to swiftly defeat France, Russia’s ally, and Luxembourg was directly in the path of this military strategy. As historian David Heal has noted, Luxembourg’s location made it an unintended target in the execution of the Schlieffen Plan.

The accidental invasion of Luxembourg

On 1 August 1914, German troops were poised to advance, but the Kaiser’s attempts to secure Britain’s neutrality delayed their offensive by a few hours. Unfortunately, it appears that no one had told the soldiers of the German 69th Infantry Regiment.

At 7pm that evening, five vehicles carrying 16 German soldiers arrived at the train station in Troisvierges, located in northern Luxembourg. They immediately entered the station's telegraph office, ordered the operator to destroy the telegraph, and proceeded to tear up about 150 meters of railroad track. This act of sabotage was counterproductive, as railways were crucial to the Schlieffen Plan. The reason for this seemingly senseless damage remains unclear.

A Luxembourgish gendarme confronted the German officer in charge, protesting the invasion of neutral territory. The officer’s response was stark: "We know. We have already taken your capital, and if you say another word, you will be shot."

This dramatic episode suggests the soldiers mistakenly believed a full invasion of Luxembourg was underway, with their actions in Troisvierges being part of a broader occupation.

The 69th Infantry Regiment’s blunder was soon corrected when a message from Germany arrived, informing them of the delay. By around 8.30pm, the troops had withdrawn across the border, marking Germany’s first action of the First World War with a rather anticlimactic end.

Aftermath

Later that evening, Luxembourgish Prime Minister Paul Eischen sent a telegram to the German government demanding that it respect Luxembourg's neutrality, but the successful repulsion of the first invasion would not last for long.

The next day, the order to advance was finally given, and the Imperial German army captured the capital without bloodshed, as Grand Duchess Marie Adelaide commanded the 400-strong Luxembourgish army to stand down, and Luxembourg would remain under German occupation for the entirety of the war. While it retained its own government, it suffered from severe economic disruption and food shortages, and Marie Adelaide was eventually forced to abdicate for her perceived collaboration.

But the Luxembourgish people would not just simply sit the war out, as thousands joined up with Allied forces to fight against the Germans. Their efforts are still commemorated today through the symbol of the Gëlle Fra. More on this here.

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