This doctoral thesis examines the consequences of desertion and draft evasion on the families of Luxembourgish young men enrolled in the Reichsarbeitsdienst and Wehrmacht during the Second World War. It explores the repressive measures imposed on them by the Nazi authorities, focusing on the underlying mechanisms, ideological frameworks and objectives, as well as the roles and interactions of various power structures involved.
It is the first investigation in Luxembourg historiography to look at these families as a distinct group of actors. Although the existing national and international literature addresses aspects related to their experiences, such as forced resettlement, the information remains highly fragmented and often lacks depth. By broadening the analytical scope, drawing together scattered insights and consolidating the whole into a unified framework, the investigation challenges oversimplified national discourses and positions the Luxembourg case in broader international academic debates on the topic.
The historical events are studied from both a top-down and bottom-up perspective, using an actor-centred approach and drawing on a diverse range of sources. Through the analysis of the various perspectives these sources provide, and the incorporation of methods from digital and public history, the research offers a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of desertion and draft evasion on families, uncovering the multilayered dynamics that shaped their experiences.
The study reveals that the repressive and punitive measures were strongly shaped by the broader ethnic policies of the Nazi regime. It observes a distinction between measures that affected all types of families, and those specifically targeting ethnic German families. They were based on complex networks of collaboration and the delegation of responsibilities between various centres and levels of power, which pursued the broader objectives of the Nazi regime, but also acted in their own interests. Although these actions took place at the intersection of the military and civil spheres, the civil authorities played the dominant role. At the family level, the observed multiplicity and diversity of individual experiences challenge simplistic binary categorisations often found in national and international narratives.
In addition to this historical investigation, this thesis also critically examines the constraints of historical research on the Second World War in Luxembourg, particularly related to the difficult access to sources. Largely shaped by these constraints, the thesis contributes to ongoing debates on the importance of ensuring a more democratic and transparent access to contemporary sources.
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