Miniature circular bronze medal with eyelet and loop for ribbon suspension; the face with the head of Grand Duchess Charlotte facing left within a beaded border, circumscribed ‘CHARLOTTE GRANDE DUCHESSE DE LUXEMBOURG’ and dated ‘1944’ at the base; the reverse with the lesser coat of arms of Luxembourg centrally within two concentric rings, the inner ring inscribed ‘MIR WELE BLEIWEN WAT MIR SIN LUXEMBOURG’ (= we wish to remain what we are, the motto of Luxembourg), the outer ring inscribed ‘LE PEUPLE LUXEMBOURGEOIS RECONNAISSANT A SES LIBÉRATEURS’ (The People of Luxembourg, Recognisant of their Liberators); diameter 18.35mm (0.72 inch); on replaced correct ribbon. The medal was issued soon after the liberation of Luxembourg and awarded mainly to members of the U.S. 1st Army and the U.S. 5th Armored Division. On 9 September 1944 advance elements of the U.S. 5th Armored Division crossed into Luxembourg near Pétange in the south-west of the Grand Duchy. Skirmishes with retreating German forces near Bertrange delayed the advance but at dawn on 10 September units of the U.S. 5th Armored Division, commanded by General Lunsford E. Oliver set off north-east and, without meeting any German resistance, entered Luxembourg City to a tumultuous reception. Prince Félix, the then Prince Consort of Luxembourg, entered the city with American forces and was joined soon after by his son Prince (later Grand Duke) Jean who was serving with the Irish Guards. The following two days the 5th Armored Division, now reinforced by elements of the 28th ‘Keystone’ Infantry Division, advanced north and east and almost all Luxembourg territory was liberated by the end of 13 September after four and a half years of German occupation. The Medal is rare.
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