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History and the EU — page 2

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.

31.Which battle devastated northern Luxembourg in winter 1944–45?
- ✓The Battle of the Bulge (Ardennes offensive)
- bThe Battle of Verdun
- cThe Battle of the Somme
Why: US forces liberated Luxembourg (Sept 1944); the Ardennes counter-offensive hit the north hard. US General Patton is buried at Hamm.
32.Which EU institutions are based in Luxembourg?
- aThe EU Council summits only
- ✓Court of Justice of the EU, European Investment Bank, Court of Auditors, Eurostat, parts of the Commission and the EP secretariat
- cThe European Central Bank and Europol
Why: Luxembourg is one of the three EU capitals with Brussels and Strasbourg.
33.How many times was Luxembourg partitioned?
- ✓Three times: 1659 (to France), 1815 (to Prussia), 1839 (to Belgium)
- bNever
- cOnce
Why: Treaty of the Pyrenees 1659, Congress of Vienna 1815 (east to Prussia), Treaty of London 1839 (west to Belgium).
34.Which foreign powers ruled Luxembourg 1443–1815 (in order)?
- aOnly the Dutch
- bPrussians, Russians, British
- ✓Burgundians, Spanish, French, Austrians (with a French interlude under Louis XIV)
Why: Burgundy 1443 → Spanish Habsburgs → French (1684–97, Vauban rebuilt the fortress) → Austrian Habsburgs → French Revolution/Napoleon.
35.Who was Robert Schuman?
- ✓A 'Father of Europe' born in Luxembourg, French foreign minister
- bA Luxembourgish Grand Duke
- cA German chancellor
Why: Born in Luxembourg City 1886; his 9 May 1950 declaration proposed the Coal and Steel Community.
36.What did the occupier impose on 30 August 1942?
- aA new currency
- ✓Compulsory military service, as in Alsace and Lorraine
- cFree elections
Why: This triggered the general strike, brutally repressed — a symbol of national resistance.
37.What did the 1951 Treaty of Paris create?
- ✓The European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)
- bNATO
- cThe euro
Why: Six founders incl. Luxembourg; the High Authority was seated in Luxembourg City in 1952.
38.What did the Congress of Vienna (1815) create?
- ✓The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, in personal union with William I
- bA Belgian province
- cAn independent republic
Why: William I of the Netherlands received Luxembourg in personal union; eastern districts went to Prussia.
39.What was the Werner Report (1970)?
- ✓PM Pierre Werner's blueprint for European monetary union
- bA WWII memoir
- cA steel-industry rescue plan
Why: Luxembourg PM Pierre Werner chaired the group that designed the path to a single currency — realised at Maastricht.
40.What did the Treaty of London of 1839 do?
- aCreated the Zollverein
- bGranted full independence
- ✓Split the Grand Duchy — the western (French-speaking) part went to Belgium
Why: Luxembourg took its present shape, losing more than half its territory.
41.Order of monarchs since 1890?
- aCharlotte, Adolphe, Jean, Henri
- ✓Adolphe, Guillaume IV, Marie-Adélaïde, Charlotte, Jean, Henri, Guillaume
- cWilliam I, II, III, Henri
Why: Nassau-Weilburg line: Adolphe 1890, Guillaume IV 1905, Marie-Adélaïde 1912, Charlotte 1919, Jean 1964, Henri 2000, Guillaume 2025.
42.When did US troops first liberate Luxembourg City in WWII?
- ✓10 September 1944
- b6 June 1944
- c8 May 1945
Why: Prince Félix and Prince Jean entered with the liberators on 10 September 1944; the north was retaken again after the Bulge.
43.Why is Schengen famous?
- aA battle took place there
- ✓The 1985 agreement abolishing internal border checks was signed there
- cIt is the capital of the EU
Why: Signed on the boat 'Princesse Marie-Astrid' on the Moselle at Schengen (LU/FR/DE tripoint).
44.Put the sovereigns in order after William III.
- aCharlotte, Adolphe, Jean, Henri
- bMarie-Adélaïde, Charlotte, Adolphe, Jean
- ✓Adolphe, Guillaume IV, Marie-Adélaïde, Charlotte, Jean, Henri
Why: Guillaume IV 1905–1912, Marie-Adélaïde 1912–1919, Charlotte 1919–1964, Jean 1964–2000, Henri 2000–2025.
45.Roughly how many Luxembourgers emigrated to the Banat between 1764 and 1786?
- aAbout 100,000
- ✓Over 5,000 — about 2.5% of the population
- cAbout 50
Why: Emigration was a recurring theme, later towards America too.
46.Which Grand Duchess symbolised national unity from exile in WWII?
- ✓Charlotte
- bMarie-Adélaïde
- cJoséphine-Charlotte
Why: Her BBC broadcasts made her the voice of free Luxembourg.
47.Who was Ermesinde?
- aSiegfried's wife
- bThe first Grand Duchess
- ✓Countess who granted Luxembourg City its charter of freedom (1244)
Why: Countess Ermesinde (1196–1247) — enfranchised the city in 1244; ancestor of the later dynasty.
48.What is the euro's link to Luxembourg?
- aLuxembourg never joined the euro
- bLuxembourg kept its franc until 2010
- ✓Founding euro member (1999/2002); the Werner Plan foreshadowed monetary union
Why: Franc replaced by the euro; Werner Report 1970 = early blueprint of the EMU.
49.In 1354 the county of Luxembourg was raised to…
- aA kingdom
- bA republic
- ✓A duchy, by Emperor Charles IV
Why: With the acquisition of the county of Chiny in 1364 it reached its greatest extent.
50.What did the double referendum of 1919 decide?
- ✓80% for keeping the dynasty, 73% for economic union with France
- bAbolition of the monarchy
- cUnion with Belgium
Why: France declined, so Luxembourg negotiated with Belgium instead — leading to the UEBL.
51.What happened after Charles the Bold died in 1477?
- aFrance annexed Luxembourg
- bLuxembourg became independent
- ✓The Netherlands, including Luxembourg, passed to the Habsburgs
Why: Followed by Spanish then Austrian Habsburg rule.
52.How did the counts of Luxembourg become kings of Bohemia?
- aBy purchase
- bBy papal decree
- ✓John the Blind married Elisabeth, heiress to the Bohemian kingdom
Why: That marriage tied the dynasty to Bohemia and produced Emperor Charles IV.
53.What was the UEBL (1921)?
- aA railway company
- ✓The Belgo-Luxembourg Economic Union
- cA resistance movement
Why: Customs/economic union with Belgium after leaving the German Zollverein — a syllabus favourite.
54.What did Luxembourg abandon after WWII?
- aIts language
- ✓Its neutrality — joining the UN, Benelux, NATO and the Council of Europe
- cIts monarchy
Why: UN 1945, Benelux 1944/48, NATO founding member 1949, Council of Europe 1949.
55.What did the Treaty of the Pyrenees (1659) do?
- ✓Dismembered the southern part of the duchy in favour of France
- bGranted neutrality
- cCreated the Grand Duchy
Why: The first of the three partitions of Luxembourg's territory.
56.What financial first occurred in Luxembourg in 1963?
- aThe stock exchange opened
- ✓The first euro-bond issue was listed there
- cThe euro was launched
Why: It launched the Eurodollar market boom that built the financial centre.
57.When did French revolutionary troops conquer the fortress?
- a1815
- b1839
- ✓1795
Why: Luxembourg was then annexed to France as the département des Forêts.
58.When and by whom was Luxembourg founded?
- a1839 — Treaty of London
- b1815 — Congress of Vienna
- ✓963 — Count Siegfried acquired the Lucilinburhuc rock
Why: 963: Siegfried exchanged land for the small castle 'Lucilinburhuc' on the Bock.
59.What happened in 1443?
- ✓Philip of Burgundy captured Luxembourg — start of ~370 years of foreign rule
- bLuxembourg became independent
- cThe steel industry began
Why: Burgundian, then Spanish, French, Austrian rule until 1815.
60.Why is the Schengen Agreement named after a Luxembourg village?
- ✓The first agreements abolishing border identity checks were signed there in 1985
- bIt was the birthplace of Juncker
- cIt hosts the EU Court
Why: Schengen lies on the Moselle at the tri-border point.

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