Sunday will mark this year’s National Day of Commemoration in Luxembourg, which commemorates the struggle of the Luxembourgish population against Nazi oppression during the Second World War; on this occasion, several ceremonies will be held in Luxembourg on 13 October 2019.

Every year since 1946, the National Day of Commemoration has invited the people of Luxembourg to remember the Nazi oppression from 1940 to 1945. The commemorative date of 10 October symbolises the patriotic reaction of most Luxembourgers against attempts to integrate the Grand Duchy into the German Reich through the "Personenstandsaufnahme" of 10 October 1941.

This year's National Day of Commemoration will start with a ceremony at the National Monument of Luxembourg Solidarity ("Kanounenhiwwel"), where His Royal Highness the Grand Duke will lay a wreath of flowers.

Upon his arrival at Boulevard FD Roosevelt, the Grand Duke will be welcomed at the foot of the monument by the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Fernand Etgen, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, Minister of Defence François Bausch, first alderman of the Ville de Luxembourg, Serge Wilmes, and the chief of staff of the Luxembourg Army, General Alain Duschène. At "Kanounenhiwwel", the Grand Duke will lay a wreath of flowers in front of the monument, before relighting the flame of memory.

The Grand Duke will then greet the flag bearers, the Luxembourg authorities, ambassadors residing in Luxembourg, members of the Committee for the Remembrance of the Second World War and representatives of patriotic movements and associations.

In addition, wreaths will be placed in front of the Holocaust memorial on Boulevard Roosevelt. Fernand Etgen, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, Serge Wilmes, and the President of the Israelite Consistory, Albert Aflalo, will participate in this ceremony. The speech delivered by the Chief Rabbi of Luxembourg, Alain Nacache, will be followed by a speech by Prime Minister Xavier Bettel.

At the end of the ceremony at the monument to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust, wreaths will be laid in front of the Monument du Souvenir in Place de la Constitution (Gëlle Fra) by Fernand Etgen, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, François Bausch and Serge Wilmes, in the presence of General Alain Duschène and the head of the Grand-Ducal Police, Philippe Schrantz.

Prime Minister Xavier Bettel will then deliver a speech at the National Monument to Resistance and Deportation ("Hinzerter Kräiz"), before Vicar General Leo Wagner, representing the Catholic Church, Chief Rabbi Alain Nacache and the pastor of the Protestant Church of Luxembourg, Volker Strauß, proceed to the blessing of the tomb at the National Monument of the Resistance and Deportation. Wreaths will be presented by the President of the Chamber of Deputies, the Prime Minister and the first alderman of the Ville de Luxembourg, in the presence of the authorities and ambassadors.

In addition, a memorial ceremony will be held this year at the Trifolion in Echternach in the early evening. The ceremony will feature speeches by Fernand Etgen, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, Yves Wengler, Mayor of the City of Echternach, and the Chairman of the Committee for the Memory of the Second World War, Guy Dockendorf. There will also be a screening of a historical film, with a commentary by the professor and author Frank Wilhelm, as well as a reading of the poem "Stolpersteine" ​​by students of the Lycée classique d'Echternach (LCE) and the text "De Lëtzebuerger Zaldot". A musical accompaniment will be provided by the regional music school of the City of Echternach and the LCE choir.