Credit: Jazmin Campbell/Chronicle.lu
A series of events are currently taking place across the Grand Duchy to commemorate the 80th anniversary of its liberation by Allied troops from Nazi occupation.
Towns such as Mersch and Pétange (the first town to be liberated, on 9 September 1944) held their events already on Sunday 8 and Monday 9 September 2024, respectively, whilst the City of Luxembourg marked the occasion on Tuesday 10 September 2024, with an official ceremony held in the presence of the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess, the Prime Minister of Luxembourg and other officials (see picture below). On the agenda was a historic military vehicle parade, an academic session and an exhibition.
Festivities continued on Wednesday 11 September 2024 in Diekirch (and later in Stolzembourg). The Diekirch programme kicked off on Wednesday morning with the unveiling of an explanatory historical panel added to the Rue de XI Septembre street sign. Diekirch Mayor Charel Weiler and the US Ambassador to Luxembourg, Tom Barrett, did the honours (unveiling). The panel explains how US soldiers of the 5th Armored Division liberated the town on 11 September 1944, thus ending four years of Nazi occupation during the Second World War.
Next was a commemorative ceremony in the municipal park, featuring speeches, a wreath laying at the US Memorial and the playing of the US and Luxembourg national anthems. Local historian Roland Gaul presented a historical overview of events in 1944. He explained how US soldiers liberated Diekirch on 11 September - one day after the liberation of Luxembourg City. There were scenes of joy across the town as locals welcomed their liberators. However, the Germans later returned and certain towns, including Diekirch, had to be re-liberated in January 1945. “Freedom is not free,” Roland Gaul concluded.
In his speech, Mayor Charel Weiler stressed that it was the duty of younger generations to remember those who fought for our freedom and to prevent such events from happening again. Referring to the recent D-Day anniversary, he praised the commitment and acknowledged the sacrifices of three soldiers from Diekirch who had taken part in the Normandy landings.
US Ambassador Tom Barrett similarly emphasised the need to defend freedom “at all times and at all costs”. He highlighted the US-Luxembourg friendship, noting that such a bond had been created in the interest of freedom, as well as the role of Diekirch as a garrison town. Speaking of the sacrifices made in the name of freedom 80 years ago, he said: “Let’s never forget”. The ambassador noted that it was important to commemorate past sacrifices but also to continue to work together for peace; he emphasised the role played by the EU and NATO in preserving peace.
Attendees then made their way to the old Saint Laurent church (Al Kierch) for the opening of the historical exhibition “80 Joer Liberatioun Dikrich, 1944-2024”. The exhibition comprises photos (and other historic objects) selected by the National Museum of Military History (MNHM) and the Diekirch Museum of History (Musée d'Histoire(s) de Diekirch) and remains on display daily (except Mondays) from 10:00 to 18:00, until 13 October 2024.
The commemorative event closed with a reception.
Further north, the town of Stolzembourg is inaugurating a historical monument on Wednesday evening. This small town was where the Allied reconnaissance unit of the 5th US Armored Division crossed the border into Germany for the first time during the war, on 11 September 1944.
For details of other commemorative events, see https://chronicle.lu/category/at-home/51345-luxembourg-commemorates-80th-anniversary-of-liberation-from-nazi-occupation.
(Luxembourg City commemorative ceremony on 10 September 2024; © SIP / Jean-Christophe Verhaegen)
