National Youth Groups: Luxembourg


Figure 1.--This photograph shows members of the girls' section of the LVJ, meaning that the ohotograph was taken before incprporation in the Hitler Youth after August 1942. Note the "life ruin" badge and the German spelling of "Luxemburg" on the poenant.

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a tiny province sandwiched between Belgium, Germany, and France. did not have a strong pro-NAZI faction at the onset of World War II. Many Germans lived in Luxembourg and an imitation Hitler Youth was founded in 1936 when non-German youth were not allowed to enroll in the Luxembourg branch of the Hitler Youth. German policy after Luxembourg was seized in 1940 was to incorporate it in to the Reich.

Background

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg did not have a strong pro-NAZI faction at the onset of World War II. Many Germans lived in Luxembourg. Several attempts were made to raise an imitation NAZI Party after Hitler seized power in Germany, but they had little success. A cripto-NAZI Party, the Luxemberger National Partei (LNP) was formed in 1936. There were actual NAZI Party units formed by the German residents, but party membership was not open to non Germans.

German policy after Luxembourg was seized in 1940 was to incorporate it in to the Reich. Luxembourg was invaded May 10, 1940 and fell after no real ressistance. The Grand Duchy was quickly in corporated into a neigboring German Gau (administrative unit). Only a couple months after occupation Professor Damian Kratzeberg formed the Volksdeutsche Bewegung--VDB (Radical German Movement). Kratzeberg was a Luxemberger with a German father and Luxemberg mother. The VDB's avowed aim was bring Luxembourg back to the Reich. The party slogan was "Heim ins Reich" (Home to the Reich). Luxembourg was a member of the German Conderation, but never incorporated into the First Reich (the German Empire) when it was in 1870 by Kaisser Wilhelm I.

Hitler Youth

Hitler Youth units were organized in Luxembourg during the 1930s by the Germans living in the Grand Duchy. Membership was only open to German nationals. Boys from pro-NAZI families or Volksdeutsche were not allowed to participate.

Luxemburger Volksjugend

An 18-year old Lumembourg boy, Albert Kreins, tried to join a local Hitler Youth unit in 1934. He was denied membership on the basis that membership was only open to Reich Germans (German citizens). He was, however, invited in 1935 to attend a seminar for the leaders of foreign youth organizations. He was an invited guest at the 1936 NAZI Party Nuremburg Rally. He was so impressed that upon returning to Luxembourg founded an imitation Hitler Youth organization which was nammed the Luxemburger Volksjugend (LVJ) which used a "life rune" on a black shiels as its emblem. Only a small number of boys joined. Later the Luxembourg Hitler Youth leader, Artur Axmann, personally awarded the 30 boys the Golden Hitler Youth badge. In 1941, the LVJ was affiliated with th Hitler Youth, but not imcorporated into it. The trend in Luxembourg was to deal with it as a part of the Reich. Recruits for the war were wore regular German uniforms. Conscription was introduced in August 1942 an\d at that time the LVJ was incorporated into the Hitler Youth. Luxembourg authorities noted 9,547 members at the end of 1942.

LVJ Uniform

I have no information on the unioform worn bu the boys. The girls wore white or light-colored socks, scarves, and a dark skirt.








Christopher Wagner





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Created: November 15, 1998
Last updated: January 15, 2000