Luxembourg’s Post-War Role: An Occupation of Germany

Following its liberation after five years of Nazi occupation, Luxembourg unexpectedly became an occupying power itself, tasked with administering the districts of Bitburg and Saarburg under French authority. This period, lasting from 1945 to 1955, involved a complex interplay of political strategy, territorial claims, and the realities of post-war life, as revealed by historian Félix Streicher’s research.

A Strategic Decision

Luxembourg’s participation in the occupation of Germany wasn’t accidental. Prime Minister Joseph Bech viewed it as a crucial step towards integrating Luxembourg into post-war alliances. “Bech wanted to firmly integrate Luxembourg into the post-war alliances and saw Luxembourg’s participation in the occupation of Germany as a kind of ‘entry ticket’ into these new international structures,” explained Streicher RTL Today. Initially, the Soviet Union and the United States were hesitant, but Great Britain, weakened by the war, saw the involvement of smaller Allies as a way to maintain influence.

Territorial Claims and Reparations

Beyond international positioning, Luxembourg aimed to reclaim territories lost to Prussia in 1815, specifically parts of the Eifel and the Saar-Moselle triangle. The government formally requested the return of lands east of the Our, Sauer, and Moselle rivers as war reparations. This ambition fueled a “tough, highly punitive Germany policy” within the Western Allies, according to Streicher.

Life in the Occupation Zone

From November 1945 to July 1955, the Wehrmacht barracks in Mötscher Straße, Bitburg, served as the headquarters for Luxembourg’s occupying forces. Approximately 1,600 Luxembourg soldiers were initially deployed, with over 10,000 conscripts serving in the districts over the decade RTL Today.

Retaliation and Humiliation

The immediate post-war period was marked by a desire for retribution following years of occupation and loss. German civilians faced strict controls and a visible military presence. Luxembourg soldiers engaged in acts of revenge, including the destruction of property and the deliberate humiliation of the local population. A particularly striking example was the “flag salute,” requiring German civilians to salute Luxembourg flags as they passed, facing punishment – including physical assault – for non-compliance. German civilians were beaten and forced to perform degrading acts in public.

Material Hardships and Military Readiness

Luxembourg’s occupying forces faced challenging conditions. Soldiers were often stationed in dilapidated buildings, lacking basic amenities. Initially, the army relied on outdated British equipment, including the “Sten” submachine gun and Lee-Enfield carbines. A military maneuver in December 1945 revealed the army’s poor state of readiness, with vehicles breaking down and equipment failing. Improvements came with Luxembourg’s accession to NATO in 1949, leading to modern equipment by the early 1950s.

A Forgotten Chapter

As Luxembourg embraced European integration and reconciliation with Germany in the 1950s, the annexationist policies of the immediate post-war years were downplayed in political discourse and collective memory. This period of Luxembourg’s history was largely forgotten, overshadowed by its later role as a founding member of the European Coal and Steel Community.

About Historian Félix Streicher

Félix Streicher is a historian and researcher at the Centre d’Histoire de Sciences Po in Paris. He defended his doctoral thesis on the history of the Luxembourg occupation zone in Germany (1945-1955) at Maastricht University in September 2025, funded by the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR). He is currently researching the history of resistance in Luxembourg during the Second World War for the “Fondation Nationale de la Résistance” RTL Today.