The government organises a conference together with the City of Luxembourg to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Luxembourg's liberation.
Pétange will start the celebrations on 9 September, which is when the first American soldier, GI Hyman Josefson, died on Luxembourgish territory when allies first liberated the region in the south of the Grand Duchy.
At the time, 95-year-old Léon Kaiser saw the first American vehicles pass by from his hideout in Sanem. Large crowds gathered on the streets to welcome the Americans. In Pétange, Léon Kaiser also heard the armoured recovery vehicle being hit by a Wehrmacht cannon. Three out of the four people in the vehicle managed to escape, one died. The majority of the American vehicles entered the country via Athus.
A heavy weight was lifted off people's shoulders after the liberation of Luxembourg, according to Léon Kaiser. Luxembourgers celebrated together with US soldiers on the American panzers. Each year, Pétange commemorates this day in the exact place where Hyman Josefson died, which was since marked by a monument.
The capital was liberated the following day, on 10 September. 15 years ago, at the 60th anniversary celebration, Aloyse Schiltz explained that the capital could very well have been liberated on 9 September, but because the US soldiers had a special order to accompany the Prince to the capital, they waited for his arrival the following day, on 10 September. When Schiltz, who was with US soldiers enquired about the matter, he was told 'We are waiting for your King'. The 'king' in question is, of course, Grand Duke Jean, who was still Prince at the time. Therefore, 10 September 1944 is widely considered as the day Luxembourg City was liberated from from German forces.
The celebrations in Pétange will last several days, with swing music on Friday, live Rockabilly concerts on Saturday and a proper American barbecue on Sunday. The official commemoration ceremony will take place on Monday. Grand Duke Henri will also be present. The celebrations will then continue with a live gig by blues musician Archie Lee Hooker, and there will be free beer between 9.00 and 10.00 pm. Further events will take place in Pétange until 14. September.
In Luxembourg City, the official commemorative ceremony will take place on Tuesday, held by the government and the city's communal council, where the Grand Duke will also be present along with Xavier Bettel, Fernand Etgen and Lydie Polfer, to name a few.
