Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial

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Cemetery panorama
The great seal of the USA

Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial (German: American cemetery with memorial in Luxembourg ) is an American military cemetery with memorial in Luxembourg . The approximately 21 hectare area is located about three kilometers east of Luxembourg City in the suburb of Hamm .

History of origin

The German Ardennes offensive at the end of the Second World War from December 16 to 25, 1944 was stopped by the Allies with great losses. The American Armed Forces fought with air forces and ground forces provided by the 12th (US) Army Group , the 1st (US) and 3rd (US) Armies . The military cemetery was initially selected as a temporary grave site and created by members of the 5th (US) Armored Division . After the completion of the military cemetery on December 16, 1949, 5076 dead found their final resting place here. The final work was completed in the spring of 1960 and the inauguration took place on July 4, 1960. Luxembourg has given the site to the American Battle Monuments Commission , which had it built and looked after, for an unlimited period of time. The executive architects for the cemetery and memorial were Keally and Patterson from New York City , while the landscaping was directed by Alfred Geiffert Jr., also from New York City.

general description

The area contains a visitor area, a memorial, the chapel and the rows of graves, in the visual axis in the background is a flagpole on which the American national flag is hoisted. A large iron gate with figures of bears holding a wreath of laurels provides access to the site. Gilded bronze eagles are erected on the massive stone pillars. The engraving on the pillars consists of thirteen pigeons, which are supposed to symbolize the founding states of the USA, the border walls are adorned with hydrangeas .

The memorial

cenotaph

The center of the memorial forms a on a base in a square built construction Chapel . The terrace designed around the chapel allows an overview of the burial grounds. The names of the missing soldiers are listed on boards attached to the pylons . On the granite terrace, the words of General Eisenhower can be read in bronze letters :

ALL WHO SHALL HEREAFTER LIVE IN FREEDOM WILL BE HERE REMINDED THAT TO THESE MEN AND THEIR COMRADES WE OWE A DEBT TO BE PAID WITH GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF THEIR SACRIFICE AND WITH THE HIGH RESOLVE THAT THE CAUSE FOR WHICH THEY DIED SHALL LIVE ETERNALLY

ALL THAT LIVE IN FREEDOM AFTER HERE ARE REMINDERED THAT WE OWN TO THESE MEN AND THEIR COMMERCIALS A GRATEFUL MEMORIAL OF THEIR VICTIM AND THE RESOLUTION THAT THE THING FOR WHICH THEY DIED WILL EXIST FOREVER

The court of honor

The names, ranks and troop membership of 371 missing soldiers are engraved on the two pillars of the court of honor ; they are honored with the following words:

HERE ARE RECORDED THE NAMES OF AMERICANS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY AND WHO SLEEP IN UNKNOWN GRAVES

THE NAMES OF THE AMERICANS ARE LISTED HERE WHO DEDICATED THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY AND REST IN UNKNOWN GRASES

In the memorial, the individual phases and military operations of the Battle of the Bulge are depicted in large wall mosaics .

The chapel

Inside of the chapel

The chapel stands on a podium, it is made of stones made in France . On the east side, the eye falls on the relief attached to the chapel , which represents the seal of the United States of America. The years 1941–1945 and a text are engraved below this seal:

IN PROUD REMEMBRANCE OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF HER SONS AND IN HUMBLE TRIBUTE TO THEIR SACRIFICES THIS MEMORIAL HAS BEEN ERECTED BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

IN PROUD REMEMBERING THE ACHIEVEMENT OF YOUR SONS AND WITH HUMILITY TO THE VICTIMS, THIS HONORLY HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

The coat of arms of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg is affixed to the west facade , above it the translation of the dedication text into French. Above the entrance there is a sculpture of an angel who is holding a laurel wreath in his left hand and has raised his left hand in blessing , above him a dove flies in the clouds. The following sentence is carved into the lintel of the door below the sculpture:

HERE THE MEMORY OF BRAVERNESS AND THE VICTIMS IS PRESERVED

The entrance door is made of bronze on which eight panels are attached, each of these panels symbolizes military virtue. The interior of the chapel is provided with inscriptions on both side walls, the altar is flanked by national flags , this contains an inscription from the Gospel according to John :

I GIVE UNTO THEM ETERNAL LIFE AND THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH

I give you everlasting life and you will not be lost forever. (John 10.28 EU )

The coats of arms of the high commandos that took part in the battle in World War II are incorporated on the glass window above the altar .

The tombs

General Patton's grave

The grave crosses made of white marble are divided into nine sections, the Jewish graves bear the Star of David while the others are decorated with a cross . 101 graves are erected for unidentified victims. Within the departments, the rows of graves are laid out as semi-arches and are divided by grass and paths. The grave of General George S. Patton , Jr. is a special honor for this military cemetery. General Patton died on December 21, 1945 in a Heidelberg military hospital and, at his own request, was buried in this war cemetery, between the two flagpoles. The platform built at the southern end of the grave fields allows a wide view of the rows of graves.

  • Jewish graves

  • Single grave

  • view

The horticultural design

The area is a flat landscape and is delimited by spruce , beech and oak . Hydrangeas and climbing plants have been planted on the entrance walls , rhododendrons stand within the cemetery area, and beech hedges have been grown to delimit them. The chapel is flanked by holly trees and yew trees grow below the terrace . Polyantha roses bloom between the rows of graves and in open spaces .

Web links

Commons : American cemetery in Luxembourg  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 49 ° 36 ′ 44 ″  N , 6 ° 11 ′ 7 ″  E