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{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{For|the Liechtenstein party|Volksdeutsche Bewegung in Liechtenstein}}
{{For|the Liechtenstein party|Volksdeutsche Bewegung in Liechtenstein}}
{{refimprove|date=August 2016}}
'''Volksdeutsche Bewegung''' (Ethnic German Movement) was a [[Nazism|Nazi]] movement in [[Luxembourg]] that flourished under German occupation during the [[World War II|Second World War]].
{{Infobox political party
| name = German National Movement
| native_name = Volksdeutsche Bewegung
| logo = Heiminsreich.jpg
| colorcode = brown
| abbreviation = '''VdB'''
| leader = [[Damian Kratzenberg]]<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url = http://www.autorenlexikon.lu/page/author/524/5240/FRE/index.html|title = Damian Kratzenberg|date = |accessdate = |website = Dictionnaire des auteurs luxembourgeois|publisher = Centre national de littérature|last = Marson|first = Pierre}}</ref>
| chairman = <!-- or chairperson, but not both -->
| founder =
| slogan = ''Heim ins Reich''
| founded = {{Start date and age|1940}}
| dissolved = {{End date and age|1944}}
| merger =
| split =
| predecessor = ''Luxemburger Gesellschaft für Deutsche Literatur und Kunst''
| merged =
| successor =
| headquarters =
| newspaper =
| paramilitary_wing =
| student_wing =
| youth_wing =
| wing1_title =
| wing1 =
| wing2_title =
| wing2 =
| wing3_title =
| wing3 =
| membership_year =
| membership = 84,000 (1942 {{estimation}})
| ideology = [[Nazism]]
| religion =
| national =
| international =
| european =
| europarl =
| affiliation1_title =
| affiliation1 =
| colors = <!-- use "colours" for British English -->
| blank1_title =
| blank1 =
| blank2_title =
| blank2 =
| blank3_title =
| blank3 =
| seats1_title =
| position = [[Far-right]]
| seats1 = <!-- {{Infobox political party/seats|seats_won|total_seats|hex=#ff0000}} -->
| seats2_title =
| seats2 =
| seats3_title =
| seats3 =
| seats4_title =
| seats4 =
| symbol =
| flag =
| website =
| country = Luxembourg
| country_dab1 =
| parties_dab1 =
| elections_dab1 =
| country_dab2 =
| parties_dab2 =
| elections_dab2 =
| footnotes =
}}
[[File:Mitgliedsausweis Volksdeutsche Bewegung 1940-09.jpg|thumb|Membership card for the Volksdeutsche Bewegung, issued in 1940]]
'''Volksdeutsche Bewegung''' ([[German language|German]]; literally "Ethnic German Movement") ("Volksdeutsche" was a term used to describe ethnic [[Germans]] living outside the borders of Germany, and Germans who lived inside of the Germany were called "Reichsdeutsche") was a [[Nazism|Nazi]] movement in [[Luxembourg]] that flourished under the [[German occupation of Luxembourg during World War II|German-occupied Luxembourg]] during [[World War II]].


[[File:Luxemburger du bist Deutch.jpg|thumb|200x300px|Propaganda of the Volksdeutsche Bewegung.]]
Formed by [[Damian Kratzenberg]], a university professor with a German background, the movement only emerged after the invasion and was declared the only legal political movement by the Nazis.<ref name="Feldgrau">[http://www.feldgrau.com/a-lux.html World War II collaboration in Luxembourg]</ref> Using the slogan ''Heim ins Reich'' (Home to the Reich), their declared aim was the full incorporation of Luxembourg into [[Nazi Germany]].<ref name="Feldgrau"/> The policy was supported by Nazis who used the Bewegung as means towards this end.<ref>[http://www.war-experience.org/history/keyaspects/luxembourgpo/default.asp An Hour of Glory: The Strike at the Luxembourg Post Office, 1 September 1942.]</ref> The aim was accomplished in August 1942, although the VDB continued to operate and peaked at 84,000 members.<ref name="Feldgrau"/> Many of these joined when it became clear that membership was necessary to retain employment.<ref name="Feldgrau"/> A number of leading members also held dual membership of the [[National Socialist German Workers Party]] after incorporation.<ref name="Feldgrau"/> The movement disappeared after the war, and Kratzenberg was executed in 1946.
Formed by [[Damian Kratzenberg]], a university professor with a German background, the movement only emerged after the invasion and was declared the only legal political movement in Luxembourg by the Nazis. Using the slogan ''[[Heim ins Reich]]'' (Home to the Reich), their declared aim was the full incorporation of Luxembourg into [[Nazi Germany]]. The policy was supported by Nazis who used the Bewegung as means towards this end.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.war-experience.org/history/keyaspects/luxembourgpo/default.asp |title=An Hour of Glory: The Strike at the Luxembourg Post Office, 1 September 1942. |access-date=25 April 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070707211021/http://www.war-experience.org/history/keyaspects/luxembourgpo/default.asp |archive-date=7 July 2007 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The aim was accomplished in August 1942, although the VDB continued to operate and peaked at 84,000 members. Many of these joined when it became clear that membership was necessary to retain employment. A number of leading members also held dual membership of the [[National Socialist German Workers Party]] after incorporation. The movement disappeared after the war, and Kratzenberg was executed in 1946.


==Foundation==
==Foundation==
⚫
The predecessors of the Volksdeutsche Bewegung, the "Luxemburger Gesellschaft für Deutsche Literatur und Kunst" (GEDELIT; ''Luxembourgish Society for German Literature and Art''), was led from 1935 by Damian Kratzenberg. Kratzenberg, a Luxembourgish National Socialist, advocated for the integration of the Grand Duchy into the German Empire, and advanced the "Deutschtum" (German-ness) of the Luxembourgers as a historical and linguistic justification for this. The "GEDELIT" engaged in propaganda in schools and assembled Nazi-sympathising groups of students in GEDELIT premises.
⚫
{{Unreferenced section|date=November 2014}}
⚫
The predecessors of the Volksdeutsche Bewegung, the "Luxemburger Gesellschaft für Deutsche Literatur und Kunst“ (GEDELIT; ''Luxembourgish Society for German Literature and Art''), was led from 1935 by Damian Kratzenberg. Kratzenberg, a Luxembourgish National Socialist, advocated for the integration of the Grand Duchy into the German Empire, and advanced the "Deutschtum" (German-ness) of the Luxembourgers as a historical and linguistic justification for this. The "GEDELIT" engaged in propaganda in schools and assembled Nazi-sympathising groups of students in GEDELIT premises.


After the German Wehrmacht occupied the neutral Grand Duchy on 10 May 1940, 7 days later the "Volksdeutsche Bewegung" was founded in the city of Luxembourg. In his function as the president of the Volksdeutsche Bewegung, Kratzenberg now reported to the head of the civilian administration, the [[Gauleiter]] [[Gustav Simon]].
After the German Wehrmacht occupied the neutral Grand Duchy on 10 May 1940, 7 days later the "Volksdeutsche Bewegung" was founded in the city of Luxembourg. In his function as the president of the Volksdeutsche Bewegung, Kratzenberg now reported to the head of the civilian administration, the [[Gauleiter]] [[Gustav Simon]].


==Referendum of 10 October 1941==
==Referendum of 10 October 1941==
[[File:Personenstand.jpg|thumb|Census questionnaire on civil status as of 10 October 1941]]
{{Unreferenced section|date=November 2014}}
⚫
In 1941 the civil administrator ordered a referendum, disguised as a census, in which the Luxembourgers were supposed to admit their German ethnicity and thus give their blessing to a "voluntary" joining of the Third Reich.<ref name=Standardizations>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o-qM3Wk4nZ0C&dq=dr%C3%A4imol+L%C3%ABtzebuergesch&pg=PA309|title=Germanic Standardizations: Past to Present |first1=Ana|last1=Deumert|first2=Wim|last2=Vandenbussche |date=1 January 2003 |publisher=John Benjamins Publishing |isbn=9027218560 |via=Google Books}}</ref> In the "Referendum", the people were to be asked three questions on their "nationality", "mother tongue", and "ethnicity", the questions being formulated in a leading manner such that the only logical answer was supposed to be "German." This attempt was a failure. The [[Luxembourgish Resistance]] learned of the plan and spread the word that the Luxembourgers should answer ''dräimol Lëtzebuergesch'' ("three times Luxembourgish"). A test run of the civil administration failed for this reason, and the referendum was cancelled.<ref name=Standardizations />
In 1941 the civil administrator ordered a referendum, disguised as a census, in which the Luxembourgers were supposed to admit their German ethnicity and thus give their blessing to a "voluntary" joining of the Third Reich.

⚫
In the "Referendum", the people were to be asked three questions on their "nationality", "mother tongue", and "ethnicity", the questions being formulated in a leading manner such that the only logical answer was supposed to be "German." This attempt was a failure. The [[Luxembourgish Resistance]] learned of the plan and spread the word that the Luxembourgers should answer ''dräimol Lëtzebuergesch'' ("three times Luxembourgish"). A test run of the civil administration failed for this reason, and the referendum was cancelled.


Through the failure of the referendum, the occupiers recognised that they could not overcome the resistance of the population. The German policy towards the Luxembourgers changed, and became much more brutal. The Volksdeutsche Bewegung lost significance, and played little role until the end of the war.
Through the failure of the referendum, the occupiers recognised that they could not overcome the resistance of the population. The German policy towards the Luxembourgers changed, and became much more brutal. The Volksdeutsche Bewegung lost significance, and played little role until the end of the war.


==After Liberation==
The head of the Volksdeutsche Bewegung, Damian Kratzenberg, managed to flee towards Weißenburg a few days before the liberation on 1 September. A letter to his daughter after the end of the war, however, gave his location away. He was brought to Luxembourg and put on trial. On 1 August Kratzenberg was sentenced to death and on 11 October 1946 was shot at the shooting range of the barracks of the Holy Ghost Plateau in [[Luxembourg City]].
The head of the Volksdeutsche Bewegung, Damian Kratzenberg, managed to flee towards [[Weißenburg in Bayern|Weißenburg]] a few days before the liberation on 1 September. A letter to his daughter after the end of the war, however, gave his location away. He was brought to Luxembourg and put on trial. On 1 August Kratzenberg was sentenced to death and on 11 October 1946 was shot at the shooting range of the barracks of the Holy Ghost Plateau in [[Luxembourg City]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url = http://www.autorenlexikon.lu/page/author/524/5240/FRE/index.html|title = Damian Kratzenberg|date = |accessdate = |website = Dictionnaire des auteurs luxembourgeois |publisher = Centre national de littérature|last = Marson|first = Pierre}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

{{Fascism}}
{{Nazism}}
{{Luxembourgian political parties}}
{{Luxembourgian political parties}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:German nationalist political parties]]
[[Category:German nationalist political parties]]
[[Category:Defunct political parties in Luxembourg]]
[[Category:Defunct political parties in Luxembourg]]
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[[Category:Luxembourg in World War II]]
[[Category:Luxembourg in World War II]]
[[Category:German occupation of Luxembourg during World War II]]
[[Category:German occupation of Luxembourg during World War II]]
[[Category:Collaboration with Nazi Germany]]
[[Category:Far-right political parties]]

Latest revision as of 21:26, 3 November 2024

For the Liechtenstein party, see Volksdeutsche Bewegung in Liechtenstein.
German National Movement
Volksdeutsche Bewegung
AbbreviationVdB
LeaderDamian Kratzenberg[1]
Founded1940; 84 years ago (1940)
Dissolved1944; 80 years ago (1944)
Preceded byLuxemburger Gesellschaft für Deutsche Literatur und Kunst
Membership84,000 (1942 est.)
IdeologyNazism
Political positionFar-right
SloganHeim ins Reich
Membership card for the Volksdeutsche Bewegung, issued in 1940

Volksdeutsche Bewegung (German; literally "Ethnic German Movement") ("Volksdeutsche" was a term used to describe ethnic Germans living outside the borders of Germany, and Germans who lived inside of the Germany were called "Reichsdeutsche") was a Nazi movement in Luxembourg that flourished under the German-occupied Luxembourg during World War II.

Propaganda of the Volksdeutsche Bewegung.

Formed by Damian Kratzenberg, a university professor with a German background, the movement only emerged after the invasion and was declared the only legal political movement in Luxembourg by the Nazis. Using the slogan Heim ins Reich (Home to the Reich), their declared aim was the full incorporation of Luxembourg into Nazi Germany. The policy was supported by Nazis who used the Bewegung as means towards this end.[2] The aim was accomplished in August 1942, although the VDB continued to operate and peaked at 84,000 members. Many of these joined when it became clear that membership was necessary to retain employment. A number of leading members also held dual membership of the National Socialist German Workers Party after incorporation. The movement disappeared after the war, and Kratzenberg was executed in 1946.

Foundation

[edit]

The predecessors of the Volksdeutsche Bewegung, the "Luxemburger Gesellschaft für Deutsche Literatur und Kunst" (GEDELIT; Luxembourgish Society for German Literature and Art), was led from 1935 by Damian Kratzenberg. Kratzenberg, a Luxembourgish National Socialist, advocated for the integration of the Grand Duchy into the German Empire, and advanced the "Deutschtum" (German-ness) of the Luxembourgers as a historical and linguistic justification for this. The "GEDELIT" engaged in propaganda in schools and assembled Nazi-sympathising groups of students in GEDELIT premises.

After the German Wehrmacht occupied the neutral Grand Duchy on 10 May 1940, 7 days later the "Volksdeutsche Bewegung" was founded in the city of Luxembourg. In his function as the president of the Volksdeutsche Bewegung, Kratzenberg now reported to the head of the civilian administration, the Gauleiter Gustav Simon.

Referendum of 10 October 1941

[edit]
Census questionnaire on civil status as of 10 October 1941

In 1941 the civil administrator ordered a referendum, disguised as a census, in which the Luxembourgers were supposed to admit their German ethnicity and thus give their blessing to a "voluntary" joining of the Third Reich.[3] In the "Referendum", the people were to be asked three questions on their "nationality", "mother tongue", and "ethnicity", the questions being formulated in a leading manner such that the only logical answer was supposed to be "German." This attempt was a failure. The Luxembourgish Resistance learned of the plan and spread the word that the Luxembourgers should answer dräimol Lëtzebuergesch ("three times Luxembourgish"). A test run of the civil administration failed for this reason, and the referendum was cancelled.[3]

Through the failure of the referendum, the occupiers recognised that they could not overcome the resistance of the population. The German policy towards the Luxembourgers changed, and became much more brutal. The Volksdeutsche Bewegung lost significance, and played little role until the end of the war.

After Liberation

[edit]

The head of the Volksdeutsche Bewegung, Damian Kratzenberg, managed to flee towards Weißenburg a few days before the liberation on 1 September. A letter to his daughter after the end of the war, however, gave his location away. He was brought to Luxembourg and put on trial. On 1 August Kratzenberg was sentenced to death and on 11 October 1946 was shot at the shooting range of the barracks of the Holy Ghost Plateau in Luxembourg City.[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Marson, Pierre. "Damian Kratzenberg". Dictionnaire des auteurs luxembourgeois. Centre national de littérature.
  2. ^ "An Hour of Glory: The Strike at the Luxembourg Post Office, 1 September 1942". Archived from the original on 7 July 2007. Retrieved 25 April 2007.
  3. ^ a b Deumert, Ana; Vandenbussche, Wim (1 January 2003). Germanic Standardizations: Past to Present. John Benjamins Publishing. ISBN 9027218560 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ Marson, Pierre. "Damian Kratzenberg". Dictionnaire des auteurs luxembourgeois. Centre national de littérature.
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