At Schumannseck near Wiltz, Luxembourg’s bloodiest battle of the Second World War, took place on December 16, 1944. It marked Hitler’s last attempt to gain ground against the Allied troops on the Western Front. In the snowy winter nearly 79 years ago, over 20,000 American soldiers lost their lives, and hundreds of civilians of the Grand Duchy died during the so-called Battle of the Bulge.
On Saturday morning, an official ceremony was held at the National Liberation Memorial at the well-known intersection in the Éislek region to remember those dark moments of history and reflect on current conflicts.
Students from the Lycée du Nord attending the ceremony demonstrated that young people continue to engage with history and war. They explained how they are able to choose a course called “Passeurs de mémoire” or in other words “Passers of Memory.” This course uses various methods to ensure that the Second World War and even recent, violent conflicts are not forgotten. A young Ukrainian student and a student who fled from Afghanistan also shared their personal experiences. In his speech, Chamber President Claude Wiseler emphasised the importance of including young people in remembrance of these events.
On the 79th anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge, an official documentation centre in Lieler was also inaugurated on Saturday. Thousands of historical documents, photos, and books are displayed here and can be consulted online or in person every Saturday morning or by appointment. The documentation centre is located in Lieler in the municipality of Clervaux and is managed by the Circle of Studies on the Battle of the Bulge (CEBA).
Video report in Luxembourgish:
