Historical information
Museum opens on June
26, 27 and 28 and June 30 to September 2 from 13 to 17 PM BUT from
July 16 to
August 15 only from 10 to 12 AM.
On May 10th 1940, the German troops crossed the borders of Luxembourg,
violating its independence and integrity
and they occupied the country, treating under foot the rights of
nations.
As soon as the news of the German invasion was known, Her Royal Highness,
the Grand-Duchess Charlotte and her family, together with the members
of the government under the leadership of M. Pierre Dupong, Minister of
State, fled to France, henceforth to England and later sought refuge
in the United States of America.
After the capitulation of the Netherlands, of Belgium and France,
the German Military Government was taken over by a Nazi civil administration
under the leading of a "Gauleiter" (regional leader) named Gustav
Simon (see photo nr 15 at the General
Patton Memorial Museum in Ettelbrück). This despot and the
Nazibosses of his environment endeavoured to force on the Luxembourg
people the German national, socialist
and fascist ideas by creating the so-called "Heim ins Reich" movement.
But their efforts hurt themselves against in Luxembourgers' irrepressive
sense of independence.
In the referendum of october 1st 1941, the Luxembourgers were expected
to declare themselves "German"
in answer to questions of Nationality, mother tongue and ethnic origins.
Thus the Nazi administration intended to prepare a legal incorporation
of Luxembourg into Nazi Germany. But faithful to their national slogan
"Mir wëlle bleiwe, wat mir sinn!" (we want to remain such as we are
/ see photo nr 38 at the General
Patton Memorial Museum in Ettelbrück), the Luxembourgers
succeeded in turning this devilish combination into a triumph for
their cause by replying "Luxembourgish" to all three questions.
The Nazis went furious. Hearings, arbitrary arrests, illtreatment
and imprisonment took place. As an answer to this, resistance groups
arose, taking up anti-German activities in an underground movement.
At a huge mass-meeting organized by the Nazis on August 30th 1942,
the Gauleiter proclaimed the "Eingliederung und Wiederheimkehr Luxemburg's"
(Integration and Return me) into Greater Germany. This
illegal annexation put Luxembourg under
German
Constitutionnal
and
Judicial
Law. Compulsory military service was introduced and Luxembourg young
men born between January 1st 1920 and December 31st 1926 were pressed
into the "Wehrmacht".
A general strike which broke out in Wiltz on August 31st 1942 and
which was soon to extend throughout the whole country, was the answer
from Luxembourg people to the barbarous decision.
The Nazis immediately installed a drumhead court-martial and put
down the revolt by shooting. Lots of people were arrested and sent
to Concentration camps (KZ).
During the years to come whole trainloads of people were deported
to Silesia and their belongings were confiscated, young people were
taken away from school or from their work, retrained or sent to special
work camps in Germany: Luxembourg young men were compelled to serve
with the hatred German armed forces and many of them
died on the battlefields of Russia, fighting for a cause that was
not theirs. These four years of hell seemed to have come to an end
on September 10th 1944, when American troops liberated the
country but three months later, death and distress, devastation
and ruin were to start all over again in the northern part of the
country with the Battle of the Bulge.
Thanks to their heroic attitude
under the German occupation, known as the darkest time in Luxembourg
history, the town of Wiltz was endowed with the title of Wiltz -
Cité Martyre (Martyr city).
The
official website of the museum stands here.
Museum authorities can be contacted there.
28th Infantry Division Memorial (Wiltz)
This memorial, in form of a "Red Keystone", commemorates
the liberation of the
town on September 10th, 1944 and the presence of the divisional headquarters
of the 28th Inf. Division in Wiltz during the Battle of the Bulge.
Eisenhower Square (Wiltz)
Opposite the 28th Infantry Division Memorial, there is also a special
plaque dedicated to Gen. Dwight.D. Eisenhower, who visited Wiltz prior
to
the "Bulge".
Wiltz, which has a special meaning for the 28th Infantry Division "Red
Keystone", is also known as "Cité des Martyrs" and
has another memorial remembering those Luxembourg patriots who in 1942
helped organizing a strike protesting aginst the Nazi rule.
90th Infantry Division Memorial (Berlé)
About 15 kms away from Wiltz the village of Berlé has been liberated
by American troops on January 9th, 1945.
Location information
The museum is located in the
Castle of Wiltz (Luxembourg).
Eisenhower square is located on the right of the City hall near the Wiltz
castle.
The 28th Infantry Division Memorial is located in Wiltz.
The 90th Infantry Division Memorial is located in Berle (Luxembourg),
about 15 km away from Wiltz.
Personal note
The town puts at your disposal free and clean toilets (near Einsehower
square). The museum puts at your disposal a free parking.
Such facilities do not exist anywhere else. Use the opportunity to visit
not only the museum but also the castle and the town with your family.
Enjoy the visit!
