How Did Luxembourg Survive Two Invasions In A Quarter Century?

An unfortunate time for Luxembourg

(Public domain)

In 1905, Field Marshal Alfred von Schlieffen drafted a plan that was designed to secure a fast and decisive military victory against neighboring France. The draft was later eponymously called the Schlieffen Plan and was employed by Germany during the First World War. Schlieffen postulated that France could be knocked out of the war quickly if Germany landed a heavy blow. But such a blow could only come if Germany advanced through weakly defended Belgium and Luxembourg, not across the heavily guarded shared border between Germany and France.

The Schlieffen Plan failed in World War I but saw much greater success in World War II (where it was ironically employed yet again in a slightly modified form.) In both instances of Schlieffen’s military plan, one country was put on the frontlines against its will — Luxembourg.

In 1914, Luxembourg had just 212,000 citizens. Despite that, the venerable city-state was invaded by the massive armies of Germany. In fact, Luxembourg was not invaded once, but twice, by German forces in a mere twenty-six years.

So, how did Luxembourg weather the storm? What happened to the city during the occupation? How did Luxembourg manage to survive two invasions and occupations in such…