Luxembourg Marks National Remembrance Day

Sunday 9 October 2022 was the occasion of several events dedicated to the memory of the efforts of the people of Luxembourg during the Second World War, as part of National Remembrance Day.

On Sunday morning, His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Luxembourg laid a wreath in front of the Luxembourg Solidarity National Monument (Kanounenhiwwel) before rekindling the flame of remembrance. He later signed the guest book inside the monument. Also present at this ceremony were the President of the Chamber of Deputies (Luxembourg's parliament), Fernand Etgen, Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, François Bausch, the Mayor of the City of Luxembourg, Lydie Polfer, the Chief of Staff of the Luxembourg Army, General Steve Thull, and the Director General of the Grand-Ducal Police, Philippe Schrantz.

At the end of this ceremony, the Chamber President, Prime Minister, Defence Minister and Luxembourg City Mayor, as well as the President of the Jewish Consistory of Luxembourg, Albert Aflalo, laid wreaths in front of the monument in memory of the victims of the Shoah. Speeches by Albert Aflalo and Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, followed by a prayer by the Chief Rabbi of Luxembourg, Alain Nacache, were also on the agenda.

Later in the morning, Fernand Etgen, Xavier Bettel, François Bausch and Lydie Polfer laid wreaths in front of the Gëlle Fra monument in Place de la Constitution.

The authorities then moved to the Deportation Memorial in Luxembourg-Hollerich, in front of which Fernand Etgen, Xavier Bettel, Luxembourg City alderman Maurice Bauer and Joseph Lorent, President of the FEDEF (federation of forced enlisted persons), laid wreaths.

In the afternoon, Luxembourg's Prime Minister delivered a speech during a ceremony at the National Monument to the Resistance and Deportation (Hinzerter Kräiz). The president of the Protestant Consistory of Luxembourg, Emmanuelle Bauer, Chief Rabbi Alain Nacache and Vicar General Patrick Muller then blessed the tomb at the monument. Fernand Etgen, Xavier Bettel, François Bausch and Lydie Polfer laid wreaths in front of the monument.

In its traditional declaration on the occasion of National Remembrance Day, the Luxembourg Government noted that this year marked three important anniversaries: 80 years since Nazi Gauleiter Gustav Simon made military service compulsory for young Luxembourgers and the subsequent general strike in Wiltz opposing this conscription, as well as the 80th anniversary of the Wannsee Conference, during which Nazi leaders decided on the systematic genocide of Jewish people.

The government recalled that the war in Ukraine had given National Remembrance Day renewed relevance. "Freedom, democracy and peace are the foundations of our society worth committing to. This is why Luxembourg has shown solidarity with Ukraine and with the Ukrainian people, stated the declaration.

"As a society, we must never forget and we will never forget. This is why it is important that we pass on the memory of the victims and the lessons of war to future generations. This call concerns all of us", the government declaration concluded.