82 years ago, on October 10 1941, the Nazis held a census where the Luxembourgish population would pledge their allegiance to Nazi-Germany. The census had three questions. The Nazis wanted the Luxembourgish population to indicate that their nationality was German, their native language was German and that their “race” was German. However the Resistance in Luxembourg asked Luxembourgers to answer “Lëtzebuergesch” too all three questions, which many at the time did. As the census did not yield the response they wanted, the Nazis cancelled it all together.
So this Sunday, Luxembourg remembers the commitment the Resistance had, the fate of those that were recruited by force into the German army and the victims of the Shoah.
The first official ceremony of the day kicked off at 10.10 am, at the Kanounenhiwwel memorial in Luxembourg City. For this ceremony Grand-Duke Henri, Xavier Bettel, the president of the Chamber Fernand Etgen, defence minister François Bausch, city mayor Lydie Polfer, and the General Director of the Police Phillipe Schrantz were in attendance.
Throughout the day there will be ceremonies at the memorial for the victims of the Shoah, at the memorial for the people who were deported in Hollerich and at the memorial at Hinzerter Kräiz. Furthermore, flowers will be deposed at the Gëlle Fra. This has all the more significance as this year we celebrate the 100 year anniversary of this important monument.
Read below the offical proclamation from the government (translated into English from Luxembourgish)
The national day of remembrance has its origins from the census of October 10 1941. At the time the Nazis wanted to know from the residents, whether they were Jewish but also what their nationality, native language and “race” was. The Resistance urged the population to answer all three questions with “Luxembourgish”. Enough people responded to the call, that the census was later cancelled.
On this day we remember the commitment of the Resistance during the Second World War. We remember the fate of those young men and women that were recruited by force, the families that had to relocate, and the victims of the Shoah. The last deportation train with Jewish victims left Luxembourg heading towards the concentration camps, 80 years ago.
In 2023 we remember those who helped to bomb the V1 and V2 missile factory in Peenemünde in Germany. It was in 1943 that the first people that were recruited by force were imprisoned in Tambow.
This year also marks the 100-year anniversary since the inauguration of the memorial of remembrance, better known to us as “Gëlle Fra”. She was erected in 1923, and over time became a strong Symbol of freedom, commitment, and solidarity for our country.
2023 is also the 70th anniversary of the Korean war armistice. It was the first war our army fought in since the allied troops freed the country. After the experiences we made in the Second World War, it was a strong declaration for international peace and international solidarity. These are values that we continue to support today.
Xavier BETTEL, Paulette LENERT, François BAUSCH,
Jean ASSELBORN, Claude MEISCH, Marc HANSEN,
Claude TURMES, Sam TANSON, Taina BOFFERDING, Lex DELLES,
Henri KOX, Franz FAYOT, Claude HAAGEN, Georges ENGEL,
Yuriko BACKES, Joëlle WELFRING, Max HAHN
