Discover the History of Luxembourg American Cemetery

The Luxembourg American Cemetery consists of 17 acres of manicured lawn surrounded by 33.5 acres of woods.

The visitor center, where information and brochures are attainable, is to the left as the visitor enters the front gates. Entering through the gates, the visitor will see the impressive Memorial Chapel encompassed by a stone terrace directly in front of them. The chapel includes massive bronze doors embellished with bronze cartouches depicting military “virtues”, a sparkling mosaic ceiling and a colorful stained-glass windows showcasing the Army insignia representing the men and woman that rest in the cemetery.

On the lower level of the terrace, two pylons face each other across a quote by Eisenhower about the sacrifice of military service members. The pylons display the battle movements in the western European Operations (on the right) and those related to the Battle of the Bulge (on the left). On the reverse of the maps, 371 names of those missing in action are inscribed. Twenty-three bronze rosettes identify service members who have been recovered since the inscriptions were made and now rest in known graves.

Sloping away from the terrace is the cemetery where 5,070 service members lie, many of whom lost their lives in the Battle of the Bulge and in the advance to the Rhine River. The design is a softly curving fan shape consisting of nine sections interspersed with four fountains, majestic trees, and expansive rose and rhododendron beds. It is a befittingly tranquil final resting place for these Americans who gave their all.

The cemetery was established on December 29, 1944 by the 609th Quartermaster Company of the U.S. Third Army while Allied Forces were stemming the enemy’s desperate Ardennes Offensive, one of the critical battles of World War II. The city of Luxembourg served as headquarters for General George S. Patton’s U.S. Third Army. The cemetery is the final resting place of General Patton.

Luxembourg American Cemetery is located near the town of Hamm, three miles east of Luxembourg City center.

Germany launched its last major counteroffensive of World War II on December 16, 1944, aiming to capture Antwerp and disrupt Allied supply lines.

This attack, known as the Battle of the Bulge, pierced American lines along a 45-mile front in the Ardennes Forest, catching U.S. forces off guard. However, determined American resistance slowed the German advance, buying time for reinforcements to arrive.

The siege of Bastogne became one of the battle’s defining moments. Despite being surrounded, Brig. Gen. Anthony McAuliffe rejected German demands for surrender with his famous one-word reply: “Nuts!” The Third U.S. Army, under General George S. Patton, quickly maneuvered northward to relieve the town.

By January 25, 1945, the Allied counteroffensive had erased the “Bulge.” In the following months, First and Third U.S. Armies pushed into Germany, breaching the Siegfried Line, capturing key cities, and preparing for the final assault across the Rhine River. The war in Europe was nearing its end.

Counteroffensive, Counterattack,and Final Offensive

• December 16, 1944: Germany launched its final counteroffensive, attacking through the Ardennes with the goal of capturing Antwerp.
• December 16-18, 1944: Small but determined U.S. units held key positions, enabling reinforcements to move toward Bastogne.
• December 18-23, 1944: U.S. forces defended St. Vith for five days, preventing German forces from using its vital road junctions.
• December 22, 1944: In Bastogne, Brig. Gen. Anthony McAuliffe rejected a German surrender demand with the famous reply, “Nuts!” Meanwhile, Third Army began maneuvering northward to counterattack.
• December 23, 1944: Improved weather allowed U.S. Eighth and Ninth Air Forces to join the battle, air-dropping supplies into Bastogne and attacking German reinforcements.
• December 24, 1944: The furthest point of the German advance reached the outskirts of Dinant, Belgium.
• December 26, 1944: Third Army’s 4th Armored Division broke through to Bastogne, relieving the besieged town.
• January 3, 1945: First U.S. Army, reinforced by British XXX Corps, counterattacked the northern flank of the Bulge.
• January 13, 1945: First and Third Armies linked up at Houffalize, cutting off German forces.
• January 25, 1945: The Battle of the Bulge ended as the German salient was erased.
• January 26 – March 22, 1945: First and Third Armies launched offensives into Germany, liberating Luxembourg and breaching the Siegfried Line. Third Army captured Trier, crossed the Kyll River, and advanced toward the Rhine.
• March 21, 1945: Third Army secured the west bank of the Rhine in its sector.
• March 22, 1945: In a surprise nighttime assault, Third Army crossed the Rhine at Oppenheim, setting the stage for the final offensive leading to V-E Day.

Vintage Poster

Vintage posters convey the beauty, tranquility, and solemnity of the place as a sign of respect for those who fought so that we can live free today.