When did the German invasion of Luxembourg begin?
The German invasion of Luxembourg began at 04:35 on the 10th of May 1940. The 1st, 2nd, and 10th Panzer Divisions crossed the border at Wallendorf-Pont, Vianden, and Echternach respectively.
Questions about German invasion of Luxembourg
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who led the Grand Ducal Gendarmerie during the German invasion of Luxembourg?
Major-Commandant Émile Speller commanded the Corps des Gendarmes et Volontaires which included the Grand Ducal Gendarmerie under Captain Maurice Stein. Captain Aloyse Jacoby also led a Volunteer Corps that was part of this combined force.
What fortifications were built along the borders of Luxembourg before the German invasion in 1940?
Fortifications known as the Schuster Line consisted of 41 sets of concrete blocks and iron gates erected in the spring of 1940. These defenses included 18 bridgeblocks and 18 roadblocks on the German border plus five roadblocks on the French border.
How many civilians fled from Luxembourg during the German occupation starting in May 1940?
More than 90,000 civilians fled from the canton of Esch-sur-Alzette following the advance of German forces. Forty-seven thousand evacuated to France while another 45,000 poured into the central and northern part of Luxembourg.
Where did the Grand Ducal government relocate after the German invasion of Luxembourg on the 10th of May 1940?
The Grand Ducal government moved to Paris on the 11th of May 1940 before relocating to Fontainebleau then Poitiers. The government later moved to Portugal and the United Kingdom before finally settling in Canada for the duration of the war.