The day following the initial announcement, many people took to the streets to protest the decision. Germans did not take this lightly however and carried out mass arrests. 125 protestors were detained and 21 were sentenced to death. 260 high school pupils were further sent to Germany for "reeducation".
The compulsory military service in the German army was also designed to help indoctrinate entire generations. 13,825 individuals from Luxembourg are known to have been drafted, out of which almost one in three did not make it home after the war. 3,600 women were forced into labour, out of which 46 died. 6,700 young Luxembourgish men were sent straight to the frontlines and used as canon fodder, with 2,850 of them dying during their service.
Today, Luxembourg also commemorates the 3,500 individuals who managed to escape the Germans or deserted from their armed forces, as well as the families that helped them stay in hiding. Similarly, the country remembers the resistance fighters who risked their lives to fight the German enemies on the ground.
To commemorate the fateful day in Luxembourgish history, ceremonies will be held across the country on Monday.
