Luxembourg: How a Country of 600,000 Resisted Germany Twice (And Planned to Resist the Soviets)
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- Опубліковано 6 лют 2025
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Source/Further reading:
Quick facts on Luxembourg: Luxembourg - The World Factbook (cia.gov)
Resistance in WWI:
luxembourg.pub...
encyclopedia.1...
encyclopedia.1...
www.brusselsti...
www.luxtimes.l...
www.luxtimes.l...
today.rtl.lu/c...
today.rtl.lu/c...
today.rtl.lu/c...[Text Wrapping Break]today.rtl.lu/c...
Resistance in WWII:
luxembourg.pub...
luxembourg.pub...
wtamu-ir.tdl.o...
today.rtl.lu/c...
Stay Behind Organisations during the Cold War:
www.digithemis....
www.senate.be/...
www.rtbf.be/in...
www.researchga...
www.php.isn.eth...
Stay Behind in Luxembourg and the Bommeleeer Scandal: www.jstor.org/...
today.rtl.lu/n...
today.rtl.lu/n...
today.rtl.lu/n...
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You should watch a great documentary called "everything is a rich man's trick" its absolutely brilliant then see how Luxembourgs royal family where actually part of it like all the Royal families of Europe.
Thank you very much for recognizing my lil home ❤️
@@donkey18071980 That would explain why they had to cross most of europe by car, running away and getting a visa from Aristides de Sousa Mendes, the bordeaux consul who is recognised to have saved more people than Schindler and also many notables (artists, leaders,etc).
@@donkey18071980 okkk
Lived in Germany for a year as a child (dad was in the usaf) and I remember he took us to this beautiful place. We went for dinner and as we walked down the street, a tiny old lady who was selling flowers walked up to my father in his uniform and she was crying. None of our family spoke anything but English, but she pressed a flower into his hand and then kissed his hand. My dad said that she must have been rescued by an American soldier at some point in WWII. I always think about that, it was like a movie scene, when I watch documentaries like this.
The famous slogan of Luxembourg "Mir wellen bleiwen wat mir sinn" (We want to remain as what we are), was famously graffitied across the entire country during the Nazi occupation. Some have been preserved and can still be seen today.
During the occupation many attempts were made to destroy the Luxembourgish identity, by banning the use of Luxembourgish in writing and speaking, renaming of Luxembourgish (or any other non-german) names, the roude leiw (the red lion) was often a sign of Luxembourgish pride and therefore seen as treacherous to the Nazis.
"Mir wellen bleiwen wat mir sinn" became such an immensely important saying during a time of systematic identity destruction in Luxembourg, and really somes up the resilience this country, its people and its culture have had over the centuries.
Simon: The hero keeping UA-cam’s watch numbers up single handily.
I also think Leyte Gulf would be a fascinating battlefield to talk about next
My Grandfather was conscripted as an 18-year old in 1943/44 in Luxembourg and was sent to fight on the Russian Front, where he was wounded. It marked him for the rest of his life and he never spoke a word about it. Like many, the luxembourgish people suffered a lot during WWII
I grew up and lived most of my life next to the german - luxembourg border and was allways impressed by the beauty of the whole region and the bravery of the people. Actually, I allways felt that we germans of the border region have more in common whith the luxemburgers in traditions, language and culture than we have with most other germans. Living 200km apart for a decade now, I still experience culture shocks, missing what I grew up with and wondering, what strange traditions they have where I live now. Thank you for acknowledging the role this tiny country played in history.
When Simon said "Two World Wars and" I was half expecting him to say "one World cup doodah doodah" must be the accent
Luxembourg is also a ridiculously beautiful country. The capital is a great place to have a beer on a hot day chatting with friends and setting the world to rights.
"They survived two world wars, but not one world cup, wheyyyy"
The day we (Luxembourg) win ANY cup, you will hear the whole country celebrating 🥳 i am hopeful (dräi mol vive)
@@sandymckenna9727 12 rich teenagers in the whole country. I sincerely doubt it. Unless you are broke and the only hope you have is football it’s pretty hard to become great at any sport. But if they do, I will celebrate with them. Everyone loves an underdog.
@@heyday1233 Luxembourg won the world cup in baby-foot in 2014. Well it's a game played in pubs, maybe that's why we're good at it 🤣
Me, a Luxembourger seeing the video title: “A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one”
How is life in Luxembourg? Always been curious how it is to live in such a small nation
@@Bald_Zeus probably pretty and quiet tbh they don't tend to go to war much as he said in the video
Better than me, they keep telling you are what you eat? And I keep replying, I am not a hamburger.
@@Bald_Zeus You could toss a coin since 50% of the people that live in Luxembourg are non-Luxembourgers
haha bouger
Thanks again! The courage of "true patriots" defending their country. My uncle is buried there, receiving the Medal of Honor for his actions. I hope to visit soon. Thanks again.
Imagine being a prisoner in Dachau seeing the Princess of Luxembourg and her children.. It must've really felt like the end of the world. If royalty wasn't even safe from the Nazi regime how could ever be stopped....
"nukes"
One interesting fact about princess Antonia is that she felt so disgusted with Germans and Germany that she swore to never set foot in Germany ever again.
@@Axonteer
No, it can't. You do that and you kill EVERYONE.
@@bobfg3130 exactly. Unfortunately some “peaceful” religious beliefs that are glorified death cults are anxious for the end of the world and this is a pretty good path to that end. 😳🤮😢
@@bobfg3130 Not a bad idea.
My mother is from Luxembourg. In often visited my relatives in Luxembourg city and Echternach. I lived on the border right across from Echternach in a German town called Falkenbach. Very pretty. Currently in the US state of Oregon waiting for the borders to reopen so I can go back.
Cool mate! I moved to the southeast United States from Scotland. Yet to go to the northwest but I do love it down here.
I actually go to school in Echternach
I see Luxembourg I give like. Gudden Mëtteg mëng Lëtzebuerger Frënn!
Moien🇱🇺
Moien from Saarland 🇩🇪🇱🇺
I do love history and your rendition of it includes right up to the present. It goes in deep to things I never knew and that draw me in to hang on every word! Thank you so much, I really appreciate all the hard work that must go into it. Always waiting for the next intriguing lesson.
Be well!
The man who's videos never stop..keep em coming!
*whose
This video stops after 22:48, so what are you talking about?
@@pietersmal5903 sorry! *whoms'tve
@@dennisyoungblood349 what do you mean
Well he is a cyborg now.
Great video Simon. A better WW 2 history lesson of what happened in my country than what we learn in the school. It’s a topic that is not really adressed here anymore. They only focus on the big moves during the war, neglecting our own history.
Moien! An merci 🙏🏼 (hello and thanks!!) Luxembourgeois here!
Uuuh as a long time subscriber I'm happy to see you make a video about my country 😁
We're in the same boat here! 💪🇱🇺
Wisou schwezt dea keen letzebuergesch ? :P
@@Curie210 Well de Simon Wistler mech soss nët versteet 😉
@@welfiblablabla jo do hues de rescht, geif mech och wonneren bei eiser relativ eegener sproch
@@Curie210 Obwuel mettlerweil esouguer Lëtzebuergesch Google Translate ass 🤣
True fact: you pass the grand-duchy on the RIGHT hand side.
Rommel would agree xD
All facts are true
And don't forget, puff, puff, pass. Don't get greedy.
Never bogart the Grand-Duchy
Nobody gets it. Too young
My grandma is from Luxembourg! being American, no one seems to know where it is. And a good amount confuse it with Lichtenstein or Lithuania.
My grandpa spent a lot of time there during WWII
That's awesome! 🔥 Be sure to learn some Luxembourgish from her and to visit at some point! You are always welcome! 🙌
Oh, and send your grandma a warm "Moien", and your grandpa a big Salute for his service and help in our liberation! 🇱🇺
Most people of our bordering countries don't even know that we exist or where/what Luxembourg is. Most think we are part of Germany.
Funnily enough when I visited Seoul (Korea) the owner of a kbbq restaurant knew exactly what Luxembourg is and where it is 🤣
Turned out we send a very small regiment of soldiers to help the allies in the korean war and the owners dad fought together with luxembourgish soldiers 🤣
Yea that would be me
@@nanochad2979 His dad showed me a picture of him with a luxemburgish soldier.
I don't need you to believe it for it to be true 😅
I'm in southeast United States now from Britain it's kind of a stereotype they don't have good geography knowledge but many in my circles are pretty darn knowledgeable, really surprised me. They knew exactly where my hometown of Aberdeen is but they are golfers as well so...
Excellent piece Master Simon‼️ Luxembourg’s trials and triumphs have overlooked for far too long. Very well done. I hope your shoulder heals well. There is nothing worse that a Collar Bone that isn’t set quite right, and then you are saddled with a perpetual clicking sound….
Much L♥️VE to You, Your Lovely Bride, your Daughter and Daughter to be‼️♥️✊🏼💪🏼🙏🏼🙆🏻♂️🎖🥃
My great-grandparents were from Luxembourg. My grandmother spoke French, German, AND Luxembourgish!
You can apparently get Luxembourg citizenship if you can prove direct ancestry to the last male from Luxembourg in your family.
I am trying to get all of the birth, death, and marriage certificates from 1876 to me and once I get them, I can get Luxembourg citizenship.
Wish me luck!
Did you get the citizenship by now?
Yes I did! Luxembourg and EU citizen now! Looking to relocate to somewhere in the EU, preferably Luxembourg at some point in the future.@@reuterromain1054
I'm from Luxemburg. Born and bred there. It's a beautifull, albeit quiet country.
You are not from Esch then are you? 😂 jk
Letzebuergesch ?
@@Curie210 nee, hei ass den Internet. Waat ass, wann d Ziel et ass , dass och aaner Leit et verstin?
Senn fu Colmar ^^
Moien!!!!!
Thanks so much for the video, very informative and interesting :D
One thing however, for the battle of Vianden castle it wasn't 250 partisans vs 250 Waffen SS but roughly 30 partisans vs 250 Waffen SS according to the newspapers at the time and multiple witnesses. Still a great video though :)
Simon is gonna do a video on himself one day at this rate.
There's a Simon Whistler interview if you're interested
Should do one on his hair
Megaprojects: All his channels
Sideprojects: Beard + perfume & beard oil merch
Biographics: One about Danny + one about Simon
TopTenz: Top 10 best Simon Whistler channels + Top 10 best sponsors
TIFO: Facts about behind the scenes
Geographics: History about Prague and Rotherham I guess
xplrd: How Sam managed to get so proficient in memes
On a channel called: Simographics.
Luxembourg WWI: We are neutral, leave us alone!
Invaded.
Luxembourg WWII: We are neutral, leave us alone!
Invaded.
Luxembourg after WWII: Ok, you all are effing around! You are all about to find out!
Thank you for this superb video.
1:20 - Chapter 1 - Cold shoulder to the kaiser
4:20 - Chapter 2 - Trainspotting
7:05 - Mid roll ads
8:35 - Chapter 3 - Here they come again
11:10 - Chapter 4 - Patriots & lions
15:15 - Chapter 5 - You can never be too ready
16:55 - Chapter 6 - Getting ahead by staying behind
20:00 - Chapter 7 - Bombing scandals
- Chapter 8 -
Keep up the good work fella and stay safe
it may have been something I missed in a previous video, but on a similar note to this one, Switzerland feels like its worth exploring. Somehow a wee country sitting in the middle of Europe has managed to dodge being involved in pretty much anything in modern times, whilst amassing itself a fortune.
As a Luxemburger I see Luxembourg I press like
Laurent?
Dann schwetz deng mammesproch ♡ och wann keen oußer eis se versteht xD
@@Curie210 nemen go 🙌
Hun kehn wuet fersanen ?
🇪🇺 Lëtzebuerg 🇪🇺
No line has ever made me want to try squarespace more than "a page full of the dankest of memes" advertising at it's finest
Merci fir desen video. Ech sin vun Letzebuerg an fannen daat tiptop ♡
Roude Léiw huel se
Moi en goeden dag! We kunnen onze vrienden in het zuiden nog steeds verstaan! Mooi land en taal!
Tiptop inderdaad!!
HUEL SE ROUDE LEIW! 3 mol Vive :p
Schreiw op englesch, datt d`Leit dech och verstin.
@@reuterromain1054 keng loscht =P
@@reuterromain1054 no
As a Luxembourger myself I can assure u that luxembourgish locals are truly one of a kind
Hey Simon! How about a video about the Guachimontones? They are some really cool circular pyramids in Mexico.
E schéine Bonjour vu Lëtzebuerg!
Never thought I'd see my country featured on this channel! 😚👌
Thanks for shedding light on the SBO. This is one of a multitude of WWII legacies which just proves the hangover of WWII still isn't over.
This interesting video made me feel proud to be a Luxembourger :)
Thank you simon, for doing a video of the country I call home😃😃😃
"Hey, Kaiser Willie...I gotta salute for ya...A one fingered salute!"
He’s number one 🖕🏼
Ve vant beer!
Did Luxembourg night marathon in 2016. A very wild crowd on route. Great run and crazy locals.
How many people were pissed drunk? Knowing how we are after work's done, I can safely assume a lot of them were
Rube goldberg machine of aliences is a perfect explaination.
I agree.
I think the history of how Luxembourg survived until the 20th century is more interesting. Borders during both World Wars did not really shift. The interesting part is how a small country resisted being gobbled up by larger countries pre-WW1 is more surprising
Epic Simon!
Haha bubbles. Sharpest guy in the park xd
Could you cover the Kamchatka Peninsula?
Good video 👍
What about the earlier history of the country? Luxembourg used to be called "The Gibraltar of the North."
With the sheer amount of transportation passing through our country (because of fuel here being way cheaper than in our neighbours), we are still called that way sometimes
@@andrepinto1131 It also used to be VERY heavily fortified. And disarming the country and a forced neutrality stance was what allowed it to remain independent.
Funny, the one time something noteable happened in my hometown (Manternach) and i did not know about it. XD
Greetings from Luxembourg Simon! Come over with your family anytime!
I counted three luxemburger(?) comments, that’s the entire population! ❤️
@@marialiyubman 4!
Ah Letzebuerg, my home country. It's small but nice. I myself don't live there anymore but I go there every few weeks. We do have some nice scenery, Vianden comes to mind with the castle.
Watching this from Luxembourg.
Eyschen: "Hey um, Germany, if you could maybe not invade us that would be great thanks!"
Germany: no.
@@Amlaeuxrai lol
*nein 😉
Great video! Well-researched and well told :-)
Thanks for the Delaware mention. Glad we could help
When Simon raises his arms for the split second at the end of the passage starting 19:09, I'm imagining him doing finger guns going 'pew-pew-pew'.
Most WW II stories are overwhelmingly sad. 😔😔😔😔😔😔😔
Hope you do Lichtenstein next. The last HRE prince 🤣
It has already been done on geographics.
@@sharjiljafric-3184 time to go thru the archives! Thanks.
@@GauntsTanith Good
"A tragic rudgoldburg machine of alliances was set into motion" the writer for all these channels is a master of his craft. He deserves an award or something.
I agree, how can we get it to him?
Watching this on my break later.
Thanks🤗
Been there once for a city trip. Very likable place. Nice and compact and very visibly wealthy
I hope you visited Vianden
Really interesting video. Thx
Interesting stuff 👍
Super gemar! Merci villmols !
Luxembourg native here 🙋🏻♂️
I've watched several of these short documentaries today and they're very interesting BUT I do wish that the presenter would talk more slowly
Blame Britain and Belgium for the small number of residents in Luxembourg under Dutch rule the country was twice as big. But they designed Belgium to be larger so.. there you go, when the United Netherlands split up they degraded Luxembourg. They kept the same royal house tho. Belgium invented it's own.
I wish I lived in Luxembourg, if only for the fact that I'd be living in the world's only grand-duchy! Great video, Simon de Whistler, Callum & Jen.
I don't think Callum was involved in this. The writer credited is Arnaldo Teodorani
Or that average 105k a year
@@CashelOConnolly
It technically IS the only grand duchy.
@@CashelOConnolly
Cornwall is part of the UK.
I live in Luxembourg ;)
I'm 41 years old and I'm still discovering new youtube channels hosted by Simon
Thanks
As a Medernach, I’m so proud of my people! We are what we are!
I would live there
That picture of the Grand Duke being assassinated at 1:30 looked like his wife is punching him in the face when I first saw it. Anyone else see that?
While I agree that it really looks like she's punching him, this isn't the Grand-Duke. It is the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, the event that started WW1
@@welfiblablabla I knew his name, I don't know why I got his title messed up though. Either way, it looked like she was giving him a solid shot. Haha.
@@michaelhowell2326 Yeah, like "Why did you idiot let yourself get shot?" 🤣
you should do one on the Nile river
I’ve always had a weird love for Luxembourg and this video made me feel so validated
Rest in peace to those that passed away.
I am glad you covered this, otherwise I wouldn't know about it. I'm not really into war history
Could you please add subtitules to your amazing videos? it would be VERY helpful. Thank you very much! :D
12:15 simon accepted defeat
Fun Fact the Grand Duke of Luxembourg looks like David Bowie.
LOL
He does somewhat... an old David Bowie
Minus the heterochromia. 😆
As a person from Delaware (the state no one cares about) I have been deprived of references to my state and appreciate anything I can get. Anyone from Delaware can relate
I even happen to know that Delaware got its name from the french count of "De la Var", who fought against Britain in the US war of independence.
And i happen to know that there is a native American tribe which is called "Delawares" but whose real name is Leni Lenape.
But that is about it!
you missed one vital question: Do they have dank memes of themselfs?
On the other hand, people seem to only remember the "bad" things about switzerland "uuh they made economical deals with germany because they didnt want to get invaded, such bad people"... and just ignore what happend around those deals.
WWI Back then, they were barely 300.000. and anoyed being occupied again, since 1867 ( London Treaty) the fortress was demolished, foreign garisons withdrawn and neutraliry granted while loosing part of the Ardennes to Belgium (actual Luxembozrg province). Some say if the fortress would not have been demolished after 1867, Verdun battle would not have been in Verdun, but in Luxembourg. After WWII, everyone knows Stay behind never existed,
Moien from Luxembourg
Moi uit Groningen, Nederland!
Gudden metteg soen ech dann ♡
Goedemiddag!
Zal ik zeggen, maar Moi'n is beter 👍🏻😁
If you are not big & strong, you need to be smart & rich!
Back in time Luxemburguish were less then 400k
Possibly the greatest, most beautiful, little nation, on the planet.
🇪🇺 Lëtzebuerg 🇪🇺
do they make delux burgers in luxembourg?
Thumbnail looking like an Oblivion screenshot
Simon switched to cappuccino before this video. Take a breath!
On that notes if there are syncope outtakes, di post them!
10:23 - The Third German Reich be like, "Here's your new *Provincial Flag of Luxembourg.* "
One in three brothers will survive. Yet in the end foes will be retreating in sorrow.
Please start using some maps in the videos
Lux City is my fave city of the Benelux region.
"How did this small nation, neutral for most of its history, withstand the hardships of two world wars..."
...and one world cup?
From Wikipedia: "Luxembourg has participated in every FIFA World Cup qualifiers since those for the 1934 World Cup and in UEFA European Championship qualifiers since those for Euro 1964. As of 2020, they have never qualified for any of these major tournaments."
Awww... no world cups :(
@@PiousMoltar Yes, Luxembourg won the world cup in baby-foot in 2014. Maybe because that's more a pub-game 😝.
German Life Coach motivational talk. Life is just like Luxembourg. You have to march straight through it.
I Know some one in youtube who Lives in Luxembourg.
Fellow cardfight vanguard players knows who i am talking about.
*pauses video to search the size of Delaware or (3x) Singapore to compare to my province*
19:16 we all know what Simon did here haha
How the heck is Luxembourg not a microstate? The entire country is _one city_. That's practically the definition of a microstate. Also, rule of thumb: if your entire country is smaller than a large river island, it's probably a microstate.
I can answer your question quite easily. Luxembourg doesnt have one single city. In the south there are Differdange, Esch-sur-Alzette and Luxembourg City.
In the east you've got Grevemacher, Echternach and Wasserbillig.
In the north there's Ettelbreck.
Surrounding them all are tons of villages with warrying degrees of population. Some are in the thousends and one has a higher prisoner count than inhabitants.
I thoroughly enjoy Luxembourg jokes. 😂