Communities across Luxembourg will sound sirens today to mark the start of the German occupation 100 years ago.
German soldiers crossed the neutral Grand Duchy’s borders on August 2nd 1914 as they marched west to attack France at the outbreak of the First World War.
Sirens will be sounded for two minutes at 2.58pm in remembrance of the anniversary
Luxembourg’s Head of State, Grand Duke Henri, will lay a wreath at the Monument of Remembrance in Constitution Square, Luxembourg City.
He will be accompanied by Prime Minister Xavier Bettel; the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Mars Di Bartolomeo; and Defence Minister Francine Closener.
Known as the Gëlle Fra (Golden Lady), the monument was inaugurated in 1923 to commemorate Luxembourgers who died in the First World War.
Several thousand volunteers from the Grand Duchy fought on the Allied side.
Source: Government of Luxembourg
Images courtesy of the Government of Luxembourg Press Office (© SIP tous droits réservés)
Posted by: Peter Alhadeff, Centenary News