Holocaust Education, Remembrance, and Research in Luxembourg
Luxembourg is the smallest member of the Task Force on International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research, just as it was the smallest ally during World War Two. Notwithstanding size, Luxembourg's population endured sufferings above the average of other Western European countries. 1.9 % of the population lost their lives due to occupation and war. 1300 Jewish people - men, women and children - died; representing some 35 % of the Jewish population living in Luxembourg in 1940.
We are convinced that the victims of the Shoah, together with the other victims of national-socialist aggression, will always be remembered. The Luxembourg people will not forget.
Head of Delegation.
| In 1930 the Jewish community numbered about 1000 members, 700 of whom were Luxembourg citizens. In 1938 the number of Jewish refugees increased considerably. In May 1940 4000 Jews lived in Luxembourg. During the German invasion of Luxembourg some 1800 Jews escaped to Belgium and France. Another 1340 could leave Luxembourg as they had visas for overseas countries. Eventually 1300 Jews, who were deported either directly from Luxembourg or later from France and Belgium, died in the extermination camps. Only 79 survived their deportation. Rabbi Serebrenik founded the Congregation Ramath Orah in New York in 1942 together with those refugees from Luxembourg who had reached this city. In 1945 most of them returned to Luxembourg. After difficult years the Jewish community reflourished, built a new synagogue and numbers today 1200 members. |
World War Two takes a very special position in the memory of the Luxembourg people as the German occupation and the ensuing de facto annexation confronted all citizens with the existential question of the survival of a free and independent country in the future.
A large majority chose to resist the German claims and intentions and many were ready to eventually sacrifice their lives for the freedom of their country. Ever since the creation of the Grand-Duchy in 1815, this was the first time that Luxembourgers died for their country. The commemoration and remembrance of the events and sufferings of the victims of World War Two are considered as fundamental elements of our independence and our free existence in a peaceful Europe.
Since the end of the war, commemoration of the victims has been a permanent commitment in all successive Governments' policies. In 1946, the authorities declared October 10th as the National Remembrance Day for all victims, officially named the "National Day of Solidarity". Ever since, this Commemoration takes place year by year in every town and village of the Grand-Duchy. The main commemoration ceremony is organised in the capital and gathers the Grand Duke, the Prime Minister and other members of the Government, religious and civil authorities as well as survivors and their families.
While we see a decline in commemoration in other European countries, the commitment to commemorate is still very strong in Luxembourg.
Education
Until 1975, there was no need for special education on the subject of the Holocaust, because it was still alive in the memories of the survivors of the concentration and extermination camps. In the early eighties, however, it became more evident that the memory was fading due to the manifold deaths of survivors. The then Minister for cultural affairs, Robert Krieps, himself an inmate of the concentration camps of Hinzert and Natzweiler, started a first education program, which consisted of the publication of a small booklet on the German occupational policy in Luxembourg and the sufferings of the population, including a special chapter on the Shoah.
This booklet, written by Luxembourg historians, was published in a single edition of 10000 and distributed to all students aged 15 and older. In those days the first journeys to concentration and extermination camps were organised.
From then on regular journeys to Auschwitz and other places where the Shoah had been implemented have been organised for young people.
Teacher training was organised on a regular basis with experts from Belgium and France.
In 2004 Latvian teachers were invited for teacher training in Luxembourg.
The history curricula of secondary schools include teaching the Shoah. The subject is touched upon as well in literature, civic and religious education. All teachers are encouraged to concentrate on this subject according to their own interest or the pupils' requests.
Remembrance
In 1969 a memorial commemorating the deportation of our Jewish citizens to the extermination camps in Eastern Europe was inaugurated at "Fünfbrunnen" in the presence of Grand Duke Jean and members of the Government. This former monastery had been chosen by the Gestapo to isolate the Jews from society. Deportation was made easy by the fact that the monastery was situated along a railway line. Some 680 Jewish citizens were deported from that secluded location to the extermination camps. From 1991 onwards, every year a commemoration is organised at that monument by the NGO "Comité Auschwitz-Luxembourg".
In 2002 the Government decided to make National Commemoration Day on October 10th, the same day as the "Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust and prevention of crimes against humanity" created by the Council of Europe. Commemorations in schools have taken place from October 2003 on. In 2007, this specific commemoration day was rescheduled to January 27th, in accordance with a decision taken by the United Nations in November 2005.
Commemorative plaques have been placed at those locations where synagogues once stood in Luxembourg-City and Esch/Alzette before their destruction. Synagogues in those places where the Jewish community has been destroyed during the Shoah are under the protection of the local administrations and used for cultural purposes.
Research
As a general rule Luxembourg's archives are open for research after a 30 year period. All documents pertaining to the Shoah are now open. Microfilms of the documents in the National Archives have been given to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and Yad Vashem to facilitate international research.
A special commission was created by the government to work on the confiscated Jewish assets and questions of restitution and compensation. The final report will be published in early 2009.
Some regional research is ongoing, but a general scientific overview is lacking. We hope that the newly created University of Luxembourg can take the lead in this field of research
Luxembourg does not have a National Holocaust Museum but the Shoah is part of the two main museums on World War Two:
- the "Mémorial de la Déportation" located in a former railway station in Luxembourg-Hollerich
- the National Resistance Museum at Esch/Alzette (under re-construction)
