German invasion of Luxembourg | |||||||||
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Part of the German invasion of France and the Low Countries in World War II | |||||||||
German troops crossing into Luxembourg through the Schuster Line | |||||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||||
Luxembourg France Air Supported by: United Kingdom | Germany | ||||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
Pierre Dupong Émile Speller Robert Petiet Arthur Barratt | Heinz Guderian | ||||||||
Strength | |||||||||
Luxembourg: 425 soldiers 246 gendarmes France: 18,000 soldiers United Kingdom: No. 226 Sqdn. RAF |
50,000 soldiers 600 tanks | ||||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||||
Luxembourg: 7 wounded 76 captured France: 5 killed United Kingdom: 1 killed 2 captured 1 aircraft destroyed |
36 killed 52 wounded |
The German invasion of Luxembourg was part of Case Yellow (German: Fall Gelb), the German invasion of the Low Countries—Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands—and France during World War II. The battle began on 10 May 1940 and lasted just one day. Facing only light resistance, German troops quickly occupied Luxembourg. The Luxembourgish government, and Grand Duchess Charlotte, managed to escape the country and a government-in-exile was created in London.