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History and the EU

From the county of 963 through Burgundian, Spanish, Austrian, French and Dutch rule to independence, the wars, and Luxembourg’s place in the European Union. 119 questions in this section; the exam draws 10 of its 40 from here.

1.When did women get the vote in Luxembourg?
- a1945
- ✓1919, with universal suffrage
- c1848
Why: The 1919 constitutional revision introduced universal suffrage for men and women.
2.What happened after the War of the Spanish Succession in 1715?
- ✓The Southern Netherlands passed to the Austrian branch of the Habsburgs
- bLuxembourg became French permanently
- cLuxembourg became independent
Why: Austrian rule lasted until the French revolutionary conquest.
3.What was the Marshall Plan for Luxembourg?
- aA steel cartel
- ✓US aid supporting post-war reconstruction
- cA German reparations scheme
Why: Reconstruction aid — the syllabus's post-1945 starting point.
4.What happened to Luxembourg in May 1940?
- ✓Invaded and occupied by Nazi Germany
- bIt stayed neutral throughout the war
- cIt joined the Allies immediately
Why: 10 May 1940 invasion; the Grand Ducal family and government went into exile (London/Canada).
5.What did the Treaties of Rome (1957) establish?
- ✓The EEC and Euratom
- bThe Council of Europe
- cThe Schengen area
Why: European Economic Community + Euratom, again with Luxembourg as founder.
6.What did the second Treaty of London (1867) establish?
- aIndependence from Prussia in name only
- ✓Perpetual neutrality and dismantling of the fortress
- cUnion with Belgium
Why: Dismantling began in 1867 and opened the city, creating the grand avenues.
7.Which customs union did Luxembourg join in 1842?
- aThe UEBL
- bThe EEC
- ✓The German Zollverein
Why: Zollverein until 1918 — industrialisation grew inside the German customs area; replaced by UEBL with Belgium in 1921.
8.When did the personal union with the Netherlands end?
- a1919
- ✓1890, when Adolphe of Nassau-Weilburg became Grand Duke
- c1839
Why: William III died without a male heir; the crown passed to the Nassau-Weilburg line — Luxembourg's own dynasty.
9.Roughly how big is Luxembourg?
- ✓2,586 km², ~672,000 inhabitants (2024)
- b10,000 km², 2 million
- c500 km², 100,000
Why: ~2,586 km²; population passed 660k in 2023 — nearly half foreign nationals.
10.Why did the crown pass to the Nassau-Weilburg family in 1890?
- aA revolution
- ✓The male line of the Orange-Nassau branch died out
- cA treaty requirement
Why: Adolphe of Nassau-Weilburg — a German prince who had lost his throne in the 1866 Austro-Prussian war — became the first resident sovereign.
11.What transformed the economy after the 1970s steel crisis?
- ✓Shift to a services and knowledge economy, especially finance
- bCoal mining
- cAgriculture
Why: Tripartite crisis management ('Luxembourg model') + rise of the financial centre and satellite/media (SES, RTL).
12.Who was John the Blind (Jang de Blannen)?
- aA 19th-century Grand Duke
- ✓Count of Luxembourg and King of Bohemia, died at Crécy 1346, founded the Schueberfouer
- cA resistance leader in WWII
Why: Founded the Schueberfouer fair in 1340; died heroically blind at the Battle of Crécy; buried in Notre-Dame Cathedral.
13.When did Luxembourg become a Duchy?
- a963
- b1815
- ✓1354
Why: Charles IV elevated the county to a Duchy in 1354 (syllabus period 963–1443).
14.What happened politically in 1918/1919?
- aLuxembourg joined Germany
- ✓Crisis of the monarchy, abdication of Marie-Adélaïde, referendum kept the monarchy, universal suffrage introduced
- cA communist revolution succeeded
Why: Charlotte succeeded Marie-Adélaïde; 1919: universal suffrage (incl. women) + referendum pro-monarchy.
15.Which US general is buried at the Luxembourg American Cemetery (Hamm)?
- ✓George S. Patton
- bOmar Bradley
- cDwight Eisenhower
Why: Patton, commander of the Third Army, buried among ~5,000 US soldiers of the Bulge.
16.What drove industrialisation from the 1870s?
- aWine exports
- ✓The steel industry in the Minett (south)
- cBanking
Why: Iron ore + Thomas process → ARBED (1911) → one of Europe's steel giants.
17.What share of residents are foreign nationals?
- ✓About 47%
- bAbout 10%
- cAbout 80%
Why: Highest in the EU; Portuguese are the largest community.
18.How did Siegfried acquire the rock of Lucilinburhuc in 963?
- aBy conquest
- bBy marriage
- ✓Through an exchange charter with the Abbey of Saint-Maximin of Trier
Why: The 963 charte d'échange with the abbey of Saint-Maximin (Trier) is the founding document.
19.How did Luxembourg vote in the 2005 referendum on the European Constitution?
- ✓In favour, with 56.52%
- bIt held no referendum
- cAgainst, with 56%
Why: A majority remained attached to European integration.
20.Who conquered the city of Luxembourg in 1443?
- aNapoleon
- bLouis XIV
- ✓Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy
Why: The duchy then became a province of the Burgundian, later Habsburg, Netherlands.
21.Who besieged the fortress of Luxembourg in 1684?
- aThe Burgundians
- ✓The armies of Louis XIV
- cPrussian troops
Why: After its capture Vauban rebuilt and expanded the fortifications.
22.What did the Constitution of 1848 provide?
- aUniversal suffrage for women
- bAbolition of the monarchy
- ✓Fundamental rights and liberties
Why: The liberal constitution — the first with a modern rights catalogue.
23.What happened in the steel sector in 1917?
- aNationalisation of ARBED
- ✓A strike broke out and was harshly repressed by the German army
- cThe Zollverein ended
Why: Luxembourg was occupied during WWI despite its neutrality.
24.Which Luxembourgers have served as President of the European Commission?
- ✓Gaston Thorn, Jacques Santer and Jean-Claude Juncker
- bOnly Juncker
- cPierre Werner and Joseph Bech
Why: Thorn 1981–1985, Santer 1995–1999, Juncker from 2014.
25.Luxembourg held the EU/EEC presidency and hosted key moments — which 1952 event matters most?
- aThe first EU referendum
- bThe signing of the Treaty of Versailles
- ✓The ECSC High Authority began work in Luxembourg City
Why: Luxembourg City was the first seat of the ECSC High Authority under Jean Monnet.
26.What happened in 1839 (Treaty of London)?
- ✓Luxembourg was partitioned — the western half went to Belgium; the rest became effectively independent
- bThe monarchy ended
- cLuxembourg joined Germany
Why: 1839 counts as the start of real independence within today's borders.
27.Henry VII of Luxembourg achieved which distinction?
- aBecame King of France
- ✓Elected King of Germany and crowned emperor in Rome in 1312
- cFounded the Schueberfouer
Why: His election was promoted by his brother Baldwin, Archbishop of Trier, and Peter of Aspelt, Archbishop of Mainz.
28.What did Luxembourg join in 1842?
- aThe EEC
- ✓The Zollverein — economic union with Prussia
- cNATO
Why: Membership of the German customs union drove early industrialisation; it ended in 1918.
29.What did the Maastricht Treaty (1992) do?
- ✓Created the European Union and paved the way for the euro
- bDissolved the EEC
- cCreated NATO
Why: EU + EMU; Amsterdam (1997) and Lisbon (2007) followed — know the treaty sequence.
30.What was the 1942 general strike a response to?
- aFood rationing
- ✓Forced conscription of Luxembourgers into the Wehrmacht
- cA wage cut
Why: Started in Wiltz; the occupiers executed 21 strikers — a national symbol of resistance.

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