An exhibition entitled "Bertrange and the War 1940-1945" ("Bertrange et la Guerre 1940 - 1945") will be on display at the Belle Etoile shopping centre in Bertrange from 25 February to 7 March 2020.
Organised by local history association "Geschichtsfrënn Bartreng" ("history friends Bertrange") on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the village (on 9 September 1944), "Bertrange and the War 1940-1945" is made up of around 40 richly illustrated panels.
The exhibition presents the political and social situation after the First World War, the invasion of 10 May 1940, the military and civil administration during the occupation, the activity of the Luxembourg-based Nazi movement "Volksdeutsche Bewegung" (VDB), the role of the municipal council, community life, conflicts of loyalty, rationing, collaboration and resistance, liberation and purification in the village of Bertrange. This dark period of history culminated in the tank battle at the gates of the capital, along Route de Longwy, on 9 September 1944.
The authors of this exhibition had the sole ambition of trying to trace the events which happened in Bertrange during this dark period of recent history. The texts are based on documents from municipal and national archives and the testimonies of witnesses and their descendants.
The size of the exhibition paired with the large number of panels, documents and texts have resulted in the publication of a book which covers the essentials of the exhibition. The book will be on sale for €22 at the exhibition stand.
