Commemorative Plaque Erected in Memory of Victims of Nazi Courts

On Tuesday 23 October 2018, Jean Asselborn, Luxembourg's Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, unveiled a commemorative plaque in memory of the victims of the Nazi jurisdictions, on the first floor of the Foreign and European Affairs Ministry (MAEE) headquarters.

After the invasion of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg by the Nazi army in May 1940, the "Sondergericht" and "Standgericht" courts were introduced and sat at the current headquarters of the MAEE. While the "Sondergerichte" constituted the first jurisdiction created by the National Socialist regime on 21 March 1933, and aimed first at political opponents and, then from 1 September 1933, defeatists and traitors to the homeland, the "Standgerichte", formed an exceptional jurisdiction which served to suppress riots and internal disturbances, and whose verdicts could be executed immediately.

Most of the death sentences following the strike of 1942 were pronounced by the Standgericht in the hall designated by the commemorative plaque.

"Let us remember the dark pages of history so that such atrocities do not happen again," said Minister Asselborn in this context.

The ceremony was attended by representatives from the Memorial Committee, the Department of State, the Public Buildings Administration and the former state attorney general, Robert Biever.