Officially, August 2 this year will mark the centenary of the German invasion of Luxembourg and the start of World War I.

But, for historian and British national David Heal, the date is 12 hours late. Having spent years poring over the country's archives from the Great War, David has penned two e-books in English on the subject “Victims nonetheless: The invasion of Luxembourg 1914,” and “Luxembourgers in the First World War, an inventory”.

His in-depth research paints a very different picture to official accounts from this period of Luxembourg history.

“I found all sorts of things which Luxembourg had never heard about,” David told wort.lu.

Among his findings are the almost farcical circumstances surrounding the invasion of neutral Luxembourg. David explained that a misunderstanding over Britain's reaction to Germany's declaration of war on Russia prompted the Kaiser to issue orders to postpone Luxembourg's invasion by 12 hours. All troops stationed over the border were sent telegrams on August 1 telling them to hold off.

Miscommunication

One band of soldiers stationed over the border from Troisvierges, however, did not get the message. “They invaded at 6.30pm on the first of August, smashed up the telegraph in the station and then began pulling up rail tracks,” he said.

According to David's research, the message was finally delivered and the soldiers restored the rail tracks and retreated. When they returned the next day, they left the railway alone.

“To this day, no-one knows what they were doing. Because German troop trains would have used that track every 10 minutes to come through Luxembourg. It was utterly essential,” he said.

David's account of the events on August 2, pieced together from archive material, is equally as surprising. After the German army advanced over the border at Wasserbillig in their thousands and took a Luxembourg “Gendarme” with them, they finally arrived in the capital to inspect the rail tracks.

There, they were approached by another unarmed Luxembourg Gendarme on his bike, who they apparently mistook for a member of the French army and so subsequently retreated. “One unarmed gendarme with a bike put the German army to flight,” David said.

The German army marched off only to return up rue Neudorf and be stalled for an hour by a road block by another unarmed Gendarme.

Tactical invasion

Germany insisted that the invasion was not intended as a “hostile act” against Luxembourg, but rather as a tactical step to exploit the country's rail links and serve its troops in France, the historian explained.

Luxembourg subsequently became the centre of German operations, with soldiers stationed in a tented city in Avenue de la Liberté where the current ArcelorMittal building is.

The German Kaiser also stayed in the Grand Duchy for three weeks from August 15 at the then German Embassy on the corner of “Rue des Bains” and the “Côte d'Eich”.

“They (the Germans) directed operations from Luxembourg, right across the Western front because of the rail links. Strategically, Luxembourg was right in the middle of it.”

Life under occupation

Under the occupiers, Luxembourgers suffered terrible deprivation. With the borders sealed, food could not be brought into the country. Despite the importance of agriculture in the Grand Duchy, food was in short supply and by the end of 1914 soup kitchens were set up all around the country.

“I reckon most of the capital city got at least one meal per week from soup kitchens,” said David, adding that it was rumoured Switzerland donated a herd of 100 goats to breed and provide food. “Most didn't live long enough,” he said.

At the same time, Luxembourg suffered under air raids. The country was one of the first places to be bombed by the French with railways in the capital, Bettembourg and mining areas in Pétange among the worst hit.

A small number of young men from Luxembourg were also conscripted into the German army meanwhile many who were abroad at the time war broke out chose to fight for the allied military.

David recalled a letter written by one angry father who had been prevented from leaving Kopstal by a German sentry. “He said he was disgruntled because his son was trying to get to France to join the French army.”

Alleged German sympathies

Among the allies, Luxembourg was considered in some circles to have collaborated with the enemy. Grand Duchess Marie-Adelaide, whose unpopularity later led her to abdicate, was believed to have German sympathies.

Both she and her mother were awarded the Red Cross by the German Kaiser, though David suspects that the young head of state was coerced into accepting the accolade by her “overbearing mother.”

David explained one of his sources, whose grandfather worked at the Grand Ducal Court, said that Marie-Adelaide was so distressed by the prospect she collapsed. He said: “Her mother had said she had to 'think of the country'. The country would have been delighted (if she had said 'no').”

Saved by accident from oblivion

David explained that Luxembourg was officially liberated on November 23, 1918 with the arrival of US troops.

Grand Duchess Marie-Adelaide abdicated in favour of her sister, Grand Duchess Charlotte in January 1919.

But, the country remained in limbo for several months as France and Belgium argued over the Luxembourg's succession after the signing of the Treaty of Versailles.

According to David, the country was then only able to maintain its independence by accident. During the wedding of Grand Duchess Charlotte to Prince Félix in 1919, Britain sent a representative, thus formally recognising the legitimacy of the Luxembourg succession.

“France and Belgium withdrew their claims, not wanting another war,” he said, adding: “Britain, by accident, managed to save Luxembourg from oblivion.”

David will be involved in the filming of a BBC documentary about WWI with Michael Portillo in Luxembourg from February 13 to 17.

Find out more about David's e-books

Victims nonetheless - the invasion of Luxembourg, 1914