page_title: Gëlle Fra
section_title: First World War
hierarchical_section_title: Gëlle Fra / History / First World War
caption_attribution_description: Résumé Gëlle Fra. Statue vum Claus Cito eegen Opnam auteur: jeffant Datum: 10-09-2006 Licensing
context_page_description: The Monument of Remembrance, usually known by the nickname of the Gëlle Fra, is a war memorial in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. It is dedicated to the thousands of Luxembourgers who volunteered for service in the armed forces of the Allied Powers during both World Wars and the Korean War.
  The Gëlle Fra is situated in Constitution Square, in the Ville Haute quarter of central Luxembourg City.
context_section_description: During the First World War, Luxembourg pledged itself to neutrality, but was occupied by Germany, which justified its actions by citing military necessity.  However, most Luxembourgers did not believe Germany's good intentions, fearing that Germany would annex their country in the event of a German victory; these claims were substantiated by Bethmann Hollweg's Septemberprogramm.
  Although Luxembourgers left under German occupation at home could do little to aid the Allies, those overseas, outside Germany's control, could volunteer to serve against Germany.  In total, 3,700 Luxembourgian nationals served in the French army, of whom, 2,000 died.  As Luxembourg's pre-war population was only 266,000, this death toll amounted to more than 1% of the entire national population, which is a relatively greater percentage than many combatant nations (see: World War I casualties).
  The monument aroused public controversy at the time it was proposed and installed. Opposition had come from the conservative Catholic majority of citizens, and at the inauguration ceremony Grand Duchess Charlotte and the Bishop of Luxembourg were absent.
caption: Gëlle Fra, viewed from left profile
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