Robert Schuman is regarded as one of the founding fathers of the European Union. Just how deep his Luxembourgish roots ran, however, is rather less well known. His childhood in Clausen, his Luxembourgish upbringing and the close bond he shared with his mother all shaped the man who would later go on to make history with his European project.
Schuman was born on 29 June 1886 in Clausen. His father, Jean-Pierre Schuman, came from Évrange in what was then Lorraine, just across the border from Frisange. His mother, Eugénie Dueren, was from Mondorf-les-Bains. Even as he later pursued an international career, his ties to Luxembourg remained strong throughout his life. He also kept his Luxembourgish accent to the very end.
His mother had a particularly strong influence on him, instilling in him both the Catholic faith and a love of music. When she lost her life in a tragic accident in 1911, the young Schuman was deeply affected. During that difficult period, he even briefly considered giving up his studies to become a priest.
After studying law in Bonn, Berlin, Munich and Strasbourg, Schuman entered politics in 1919. He quickly made a name for himself as a member of parliament for the Moselle region. Schuman, who had grown up between German and French cultures, would later go on to play a decisive role in European history.
The Second World War left an incisive mark on him. While serving as French Secretary of State, he was arrested by the Gestapo and placed under house arrest. He managed to escape using a forged passport and went into hiding, including in a range of monasteries. A large reward had by then been offered for his capture.
In the post-war years, Schuman became convinced that peace in Europe could only be secured if France and Germany worked hand in hand rather than against one another. That conviction gave rise to the Schuman Plan, which he unveiled in Paris on 9 May 1950. Coal and steel, the most important foundations of the arms industry, were to be managed jointly rather than by individual states.
The Schuman Declaration is today regarded as the moment when the European Union was born. Building on that basis, the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), the forerunner of the modern European Union, was founded as early as 1951.
From 1958 to 1960, Schuman served as the first President of the European Parliamentary Assembly, the forerunner of today's European Parliament. After a long career as a minister, head of government and staunch champion of the European project, Robert Schuman retired from politics in 1963. Shortly afterwards, on 4 September 1963, he passed away at his home in Scy-Chazelles, near Metz.
Robert Schuman's house in Scy-Chazelles is today a museum. The "Father of Europe" lived there for nearly 40 years. The museum tells the story of his life and shows how his ideas laid the foundations for the Europe of today.
