Luxembourg marked its 76th National Remembrance Day on Sunday with a historic address from Grand Duke Guillaume, the first time the monarch has delivered a speech on the occasion. The day honours the resistance fighters, forcibly conscripted soldiers, and victims of Nazi persecution during the Second World War.
Established in 1946, the commemoration focuses on the occupation beginning 10 May 1940, when Nazi forces invaded Luxembourg. Among the most poignant tributes is the recognition of the 10,200 young Luxembourgers forcibly conscripted into the Nazi army, of whom 2,848 never returned home. The day also pays homage to Luxembourg’s Jewish community, many of whom were deported and murdered in concentration camps.
This year’s ceremonies began at the Kanounenhiwwel memorial in Luxembourg City, where Grand Duke Guillaume delivered his address near the Eternal Flame. The government’s proclamation ahead of the event emphasised the ongoing importance of remembering those who resisted oppression and suffered under it, stressing that the day serves as a reminder of the fragility of freedom and dignity.
Ceremonies continued throughout the day at symbolic locations, including the Kaddish Monument for Shoah victims, the Gëlle Fra, the Hinzerter Cross at the Notre-Dame Cemetery, and the Deportation Memorial near Luxembourg-Gare. Government officials, including Prime Minister Luc Frieden, Minister of Justice Elisabeth Margue, and Minister for Home Affairs Léon Gloden, delivered speeches alongside representatives of victims’ associations and former conscripts.
A lesser-known aspect of the day’s history traces back to 10 October 1941, when Nazi authorities attempted a population census to pressure Luxembourgers into declaring themselves German. The resistance urged citizens to answer ‘Luxembourgish’ to all questions, leading to the cancellation of the census. In retaliation, Nazi officials arrested 200 resistance fighters—a defiance that became a defining moment of national solidarity.
The government’s statement also called on society to actively combat racism, antisemitism, and intolerance, ensuring such atrocities are never repeated. With ceremonies held across the country, including at the Lycée Edward Steichen in Clervaux, the day underscored Luxembourg’s enduring commitment to remembrance and resilience.