heinrich himmler visiting luxembourg in july 1940
early on 10 may 1940, german diplomat von radowitz handed general secretary of luxembourgish government memorandum german government, stating germany had no intention of changing territorial integrity or political independence of grand duchy. following day, military administration luxembourg set up. luxembourgish interests represented governmental commission under albert wehrer, consisted of senior civil servants , had been legitimated chamber of deputies. there relationship between commission , military authorities, colonel schumacher showed broad-minded attitude towards country s problems , willingness solve these in consultation government commission.
on 13 july 1940, volksdeutsche bewegung (vdb) founded in luxembourg city under leadership of damian kratzenberg, german teacher @ athénée de luxembourg. main goal push population towards german-friendly position means of propaganda, , organisation used phrase heim ins reich.
several deputies , high-ranking civil servants of opinion luxembourg retain measure of autonomy under military administration, had occurred in world war i, , attempts made come sort of arrangement germany. however, made clear authorities in berlin luxembourg s fate different time. nazis considered luxembourgish people germanic ethnic group , grand duchy german territory. military authorities had leave luxembourg 31 july 1940, replaced civil administration under gustav simon.
civil administration , annexation
gustav simon appointed chef der zivilverwaltung (cdz; chief of civil administration ) oberkommando des heeres on 21 july 1940. luxembourg included cdz-gebiet luxemburg on 29 july. while subordinate military commands in belgium , northern france, simon confirmed in appointment on 2 august adolf hitler himself, indicating reported directly führer , no 1 else. granted him wide degree of autonomy regards military , civil authorities of nazi germany.
simon, gauleiter of neighbouring gau trier-koblenz, later moselland (gauleiter being title denoting leader of regional branch of nazi party), led propaganda , later terror campaign, known heim ins reich, convince population ethnic germans , natural part of third reich. objective win luxembourg on german nation possible. convinced luxembourgers needed level of education , enlightenment in order voluntarily declare loyalty germany. deduced belief were, in fact, german blood , descent . gauleiter, luxembourgish independence absurd idea, existed because monarchy , government had nurtured it: if luxembourgers shown evidence of belonging german nation, independent must disappear.
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