65th anniversary of the Bulge in Luxembourg

A tribute to allied Luxembourg soldiers 1940-45

September 10, 2009

September 10 is usually a meaningful date for all Luxembourgers, as it is brought in connection with the September 10, 1944 liberation of the capital of the Grand-Duchy by the US armed forces.  Hence September 10, 2009 seemed an appropriate date for the National Museum of Military History to inaugurate its extension and third pillar – the section dedicated to all those Luxembourg young men, who during WWII escaped the grip of the occupant to become a forced conscript and had joined allied ranks, often after adventurous trails.

The executive board of the museum had planned on this specifically Luxembourg section for many years, but because of funding and space shortages it was not possible to implement until recently.  So far the museum consisted primarily of two sections: Battle of the Bulge 1944-45 and the Luxembourg army.  Aware of the fact that several hundred Luxembourgers served in allied armies or armed resistance groups during WWII, the museum had taken the decision in the early 90s to dedicate a specific section to honor the “Anciens combattants” (Luxembourg allied soldiers), especially after HRH former Grand-Duke Jean, himself a WWII veteran of the Irish Guards had donated an original British 25 pounder artillery piece to the museum. Similar guns were used by Luxembourg soldiers who formed the “Luxembourg” battery of the “Brigade Piron”, a distinguished Belgian unit integrated into the British WWII army.  This unit represented the largest gathering of Luxembourg allied soldiers.  Others fought in the Number 4 (French) Commando Kieffer, in the Royal Air Force, the British commandos, the SAS, the US Army, US Army Air Force, French Foreign Legion, Soviet army and many armed and special resistance groups. NB: 7 Luxembourg allied soldiers participated on D-Day on June 6, 1944 in Normandy

The new section – entirely built by the museum’s volunteers consists of an outside diorama located on the museum compound featuring a 25pounder gun emplacement with ammunition limber and Quad Gun (Morris tractor) (the two latter pieces donated by the Luxembourg veterans of the “Brigade Piron) with gun crew in action.  A second, more diversified component is located on the 2nd floor of the museum in a special room named “Salle Anciens Combattants”.  This one features two dioramas, a series of dummies, selected photographs and personal memorabilia, including a selection of uniforms worn by HRH Grand Duke Jean..

It was a great honor for the volunteers and board members of the museum to welcome HRH former Grand-Duke Jean as a Royal Guest of Honor to the inauguration of the new section in the afternoon of September 10, 2009.  Grand-Duke Jean, as a Royal WWII allied veteran, was joined by some 20 other Luxembourg WWII allied veterans.  Other guests of honor included Minister of Defense Mr. Jean-Marie Halsdorf, Members of Parliament, Mr. Jacques Dahm, Mayor of Diekirch, Gen. Gaston Reinig, Chief of Staff of the Luxembourg army, Col. Romain Nettgen, Director of the Luxembourg police and many others.

Speeches were made by Col ret. Guy Lenz, President of the museum, Roland Gaul, curator, Minister Halsdorf and Mr. Edmon Pepin, President of the Luxembourg “Brigade Piron” association.

Thereafter, Grand Duke Jean had the honor to unveil the plaque “Espace Mémoire Anciens Combattants” to officially open the new exhibit.

The new section will be completed and supplement along with its matching archives in the years ahead.  A sub-section honoring the Luxembourg UN soldiers who fought in Korea in 1950-53 is scheduled to open in October 2010.

go to the picture gallery to see the coverage