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History
The final Liberation of vianden 1945
History
VIANDEN, a small city in Luxembourg, in the heart of Europe.
After more than four years of occupation, most of Luxembourg was liberated by Allied forces on the 10th of september 1944.
Despite the last German offensive from december 1944 to january 1945 (Battle of the bulge – „Ardennenoffensive“), which briefly brought various parts of the country back under Nazi yoke, the capital remained free.
80 years ago, VIANDEN was the last city of LUXEMBOURG to be liberated on the 12th of February 1945 from the tyranny of the occupying forces by the 1255th Combat Engineers and the 6th U.S. Cavalry Reconnaissance Squad.
A small but important detail is that only the upper part of Vianden was liberated on February 12, 1945. The lower part, around the “Viirstad”, was only liberated on the 22 of February 1945, by the 28th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squad.
The war in Luxembourg ended with the liberation of Vianden on February 22, 1945, the return of Grand Duchess Charlotte from exile on April 14 and finally the end of the war in Europe by the unconditional surrender of Germany on May 8, 1945 (VE-Day).
The documentary film shot and assembled by HOOLUX Prod. can be ordered via the following website:
www.hoolux.eu
1255th combat engineers
Unit and symbol explications
An engineer combat battalion was a designation for a battalion-strenght combat engineer unit in the U.S. army, most prevalent during World War II.
They are a component of the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
Also known as „Combat engineer battalions“ they were typically divided into 4 companies:
A, B, C and Headquarters and Service (H&S).
The Army Corps of Engineers Castle:
The origin of the turreted castle as a symbol of the Corps of Engineers is shrouded in mystery. Unfortunately, the official records of the Corps housed at the Military Academy at West Point disappeared in a pre-Civil War fire in 1838 that destroyed the building containing these records.
80 years of freedom
1945 - 2025
80 years after its liberation, we at HOOLUX A.S.B.L., together with the municipality of VIANDEN, are organizing the celebrations and events surrounding the final liberation of Luxembourg, and thus VIANDEN. The last city in Luxembourg to be liberated from the Nazis.
In addition to several re-enacted U.S. camps in the city of VIANDEN itself, an original replica of a U.S. Pontoon bridge over the river Our, rides in historic U.S. WW2 vehicles, an extension of the already existing U.S. monument “Op der Plank”, several concerts will take place in Vianden Castle. Furthermore, a Liberation Ball with the best Swing & Rock’N’Roll music will take place in the Centre Culturel.
In addition to all these points, there are other surprises in store, which we will gradually communicate to the public.