Die Luxemburger Schwerindustrie unter der deutschen Besatzung 1940 - 1944 [Luxembourg's heavy industry under German occupation 1940 - 1944 [Luxembourg's heavy industry under German occupation 1940 - 1944]

Abstract

On December 30, 1918, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg informed the Allied governments: "The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg has terminated the treaties with Germany concerning the customs union and the railways. The government wishes to start negotiations with the alliance powers for a new economic rapprochement". This terminated an economic alliance that had existed since 1842 and, after initial difficulties, had brought the Grand Duchy some substantial economic and financial advantages. In 1919, some large German companies also began to sell their holdings in Luxembourg companies. The first to do so was the Gelsenkirchener Bergwerksvereins AG, which sold its Luxembourg holdings to a Belgian-French-Luxembourg consortium; in 1920, the Deutsch- -Luxemburgische Bergwerks und Hütten AG followed suit. The Felten+Guillaume Karlswerke from Cologne-Mülheim also sold its shares in the Hauts Fourneaux et Aciéries de Steinfort to the Société métalurgique de la Loire in 1919. Also in the In the medium-sized industry, some German companies sold their Luxembourg properties and holdings. The sales resulted in Germany losing its direct influence on Luxembourg's heavy industry. Belgian and French companies were now to take over these tasks.