On the night of January 21–22, 1945, the small village of Drauffelt fell victim to the devastation of the Battle of the Bulge.
As German forces retreated, they set fire to 13 buildings, with two more narrowly escaping destruction – reportedly due to civilian resistance. While these events were once commemorated annually, this year marked a departure from tradition, highlighting the challenges of keeping the memory of World War II alive in small villages, 80 years after the war’s end.
The story of Drauffelt’s commemoration efforts began ahead of the 50th anniversary of its destruction in 1995. Four private individuals, including hobby historian Nico Hamen, came together to brainstorm ways to honour the village’s history. Their initiative was inspired by the semaines culturelles programme, introduced by former Minister of Culture Robert Krieps of the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP), which focused on cultural activities in rural areas. At the time, Drauffelt’s local church still held Sunday mass, making it a natural starting point for the event.
Speaking to our colleagues from RTL Radio, Hamen recalled how Hélène Jacobs, a native of Marnach who had sought refuge in Drauffelt during the war, shared her memories of the events. Following her testimony, villagers gathered for a communal lunch. As part of the commemoration, a series of photographs depicting Drauffelt’s devastation in 1945 were displayed in the church. These images, taken by the then – curate Albert Thilges, offered a poignant glimpse into the village’s wartime past. Since 2023, the church has also honoured resistance fighter Raymond Petit, who hid from German forces in one of Drauffelt’s houses.
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The names of the village’s historic houses, often related to the families living there at the time, played a central role during the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in 2015. According to Hamen, the group placed lamps in front of each burned-down house and provided details about the families who lived there and where they sought refuge after losing their homes. This effort not only revived the old names of the houses but also inspired the idea of creating a more permanent memorial.
Of the 84 inhabited houses in Drauffelt, 47 participated in the initiative to revive the village’s historic house names. While the older houses had their original names restored, the owners of newer homes were given the opportunity to choose their own names. These names were then displayed on perspex plaques affixed to the facades, with funding provided by both local residents and the municipality of Clervaux.
However, the fact that only slightly more than half of the houses participated highlights a broader issue: many of Drauffelt’s current residents have no long-standing connection to the village. According to Nico Hamen, direct descendants of those who lived in Drauffelt in 1945 now reside in just three homes.
Hamen pointed to a “big structural change” that has transformed the village over the decades. After the war, farms began to close one after another, either due to a lack of successors or because they were no longer economically viable. While Drauffelt never had craft businesses, it was once home to two bars, which have since disappeared.
Today, Drauffelt is often described as a Schlofduerf – a “sleeping village”. With land prices significantly lower than in Luxembourg City and easy access to the capital by train, many residents commute to work and primarily use the village as a place to sleep or take occasional walks. Apart from a single restaurant, there are no communal spaces where villagers can gather. Hamen lamented that the absence of such spaces makes it difficult to foster a sense of community. Without a strong connection to the village, he argued, residents are less likely to engage with its history.
Despite these challenges, Hamen has not entirely given up hope. While he admits to being pessimistic about the situation improving, he is considering publishing a second book on Drauffelt’s history, following the release of his first.
