The army has also participated in humanitarian relief missions such as setting up refugee camps for Kurds and providing emergency supplies to Albania. == History == === Militia (1817–1841) === On 8 January 1817, William I, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, published a constitutional law governing the organization of a militia, the main provisions of which were to remain in force until the militia was abolished in 1881.
Enlisted men served for five years: the first year consisted of active service, but during each of the subsequent four years of service they were mobilised only three times per year. === Federal Contingent (1841-1867) === In 1839, William I became a party to the Treaty of London by which the Grand-Duchy lost its western, francophone territories to the Belgian province of Luxembourg.
Until 1840, Luxembourg’s militiamen served in units of the Royal Netherlands Army.
In 1846, the cavalry and artillery units were disbanded and the Luxembourg contingent was separated from that of Limburg.
The Luxembourg contingent now consisted of two light infantry battalions, one in Echternach and the second in Diekirch; two reserve companies; and a depot company. In 1866, the Austro-Prussian war resulted in the dissolution of the German Confederation.
Luxembourg was declared neutral in perpetuity by the 1867 Treaty of London, and in accordance, its fortress was demolished in the following years.
In 1867, the Prussian garrison left the fortress, and the two battalions of Luxembourg light infantry entered the city of Luxembourg that September. A new military organization was established in 1867, consisting of two battalions, known as the Corps des Chasseurs Luxembourgeois, having a total strength of 1,568 officers and men.
In 1868, the contingent came to consist of one light infantry battalion of four companies, with a strength of 500 men.
The army has also participated in humanitarian relief missions such as setting up refugee camps for Kurds and providing emergency supplies to Albania. == History == === Militia (1817–1841) === On 8 January 1817, William I, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, published a constitutional law governing the organization of a militia, the main provisions of which were to remain in force until the militia was abolished in 1881.
On 16 February 1881, the light infantry battalion was disbanded with the abolition of the militia-based system. === Gendarmes and Volunteers Corps === On 16 February 1881, the Corps des Gendarmes et Volontaires (Corps of Gendarmes and Volunteers) was established.
In 1939, a corps of auxiliary volunteers was established and attached to the company of volunteers.
Later, from August 1944, these were joined by Luxembourg officers, who had received training in Britain. Several Luxembourg NCOs and half of the country's troops had fought in North Africa in the French Foreign Legion.
In 1945, the Corps de la Garde Grand Ducale (Grand Ducal Guard Corps) garrisoned in the Saint-Esprit barracks in Luxembourg City and the 1st and 2nd infantry battalions were established, one in Walferdange and the other in Dudelange.
Luxembourg signed the Treaty of Brussels in March 1948, and the North Atlantic Treaty in 1949. Setting up an army after the war proved more difficult than predicted.
Luxembourg signed the Treaty of Brussels in March 1948, and the North Atlantic Treaty in 1949. Setting up an army after the war proved more difficult than predicted.
In 1964, the Grand Ducal Guard was organized into a HQ, three platoons, a reinforcement platoon, and the NCO school. On 28 February 1966, the Grand Ducal Guard was officially disbanded. === Korean War === In 1950, seventeen countries, including Luxembourg, decided to send armed forces to assist the Republic of Korea.
This eventually led to disunity within the Luxembourg officer corps due to differences in training and promotion. In 1951, the Grand Ducal Guard relocated to Walferdange and integrated with the Commandement des Troupes.
The Belgo-Luxemburgish battalion arrived in Korea in 1951, and was attached to the US 3rd Infantry Division.
The Belgo-Luxembourg battalion was disbanded in 1955. === Groupement Tactique Régimentaire and Home Command === In 1954, the Groupement Tactique Régimentaire (GTR) (Regimental Tactical Group) was established as Luxembourg’s contribution to NATO.
The 2nd Battalion remained in Bitburg until 1955.
From 1955, it was organised into a headquarters company, a garrison platoon, a reconnaissance company and two training companies.
The Belgo-Luxembourg battalion was disbanded in 1955. === Groupement Tactique Régimentaire and Home Command === In 1954, the Groupement Tactique Régimentaire (GTR) (Regimental Tactical Group) was established as Luxembourg’s contribution to NATO.
In 1959, the Commandement des Troupes was disbanded and the Grand Ducal Guard was integrated into the Commandement du Territoire (Territorial Command).
The GTR was disbanded in 1959. In addition to the GTR, the Army also included the Territorial Command, composed of headquarters, military police, movement and transportation companies, a static guard battalion, and a mobile battalion. === 1st Artillery Battalion === In 1961, the 1st Artillery Battalion was placed at NATO's disposal.
In 1960, the Grand Ducal Guard was again reorganised into four platoons, temporarily grouped into intervention and reinforcement detachments.
The GTR was disbanded in 1959. In addition to the GTR, the Army also included the Territorial Command, composed of headquarters, military police, movement and transportation companies, a static guard battalion, and a mobile battalion. === 1st Artillery Battalion === In 1961, the 1st Artillery Battalion was placed at NATO's disposal.
In 1963, the battalion was attached to the US 8th Infantry Division.
In 1964, the Grand Ducal Guard was organized into a HQ, three platoons, a reinforcement platoon, and the NCO school. On 28 February 1966, the Grand Ducal Guard was officially disbanded. === Korean War === In 1950, seventeen countries, including Luxembourg, decided to send armed forces to assist the Republic of Korea.
In 1964, the Grand Ducal Guard was organized into a HQ, three platoons, a reinforcement platoon, and the NCO school. On 28 February 1966, the Grand Ducal Guard was officially disbanded. === Korean War === In 1950, seventeen countries, including Luxembourg, decided to send armed forces to assist the Republic of Korea.
In 1966, the Grand Ducal Guard was disbanded and its tasks were transferred to and performed by the 1st Artillery Battalion until it too was disbanded, in 1967. === 1st Infantry Battalion === Compulsory military service was abolished in 1967 and the 1st Infantry Battalion was established, consisting of a headquarters and services unit, two motorized infantry companies, and a reconnaissance company with two reconnaissance (recce) platoons and an anti-tank platoon.
The army has been a fully volunteer military since 1967.
In 1966, the Grand Ducal Guard was disbanded and its tasks were transferred to and performed by the 1st Artillery Battalion until it too was disbanded, in 1967. === 1st Infantry Battalion === Compulsory military service was abolished in 1967 and the 1st Infantry Battalion was established, consisting of a headquarters and services unit, two motorized infantry companies, and a reconnaissance company with two reconnaissance (recce) platoons and an anti-tank platoon.
The army has been an all-volunteer force since 1967.
From 1968 onwards, it formed a part of NATO’s ACE Mobile Force (Land) (AMF(L)).
In 1985, a reinforced company—consisting of an AMF Company with two recce platoons and an anti-tank platoon, a forward air-control team, a national support element for logistics, and a medical support element—replaced the battalion.
The summer uniform is similar, but made of light tan material. Combat uniforms in olive-green, khaki-drab, or woodland camouflage pattern, worn with the United States PASGT helmet, are virtually indistinguishable from those worn until the 1990s by the United States Army.
Luxembourg financially supported international peacekeeping missions during the 1991 Persian Gulf War, in Rwanda, and in Albania.
In 2002 the AMF(L) was dissolved. ===Recent international operations=== Luxembourg has participated in the Eurocorps since 1994, has contributed troops to the UNPROFOR and IFOR missions in former Yugoslavia, and has participated with a small contingent in the current NATO SFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Grand Duke and the Chief of Defence are the only generals, with colonels as Deputy Chief of Defence and head of the Military Training Centre. Until 1999, the army was integrated into the Force Publique (Public Force), which included the Gendarmerie and the Police, until the Gendarmerie was merged with the Grand Ducal Police under a different minister in 2000.
The Grand Duke and the Chief of Defence are the only generals, with colonels as Deputy Chief of Defence and head of the Military Training Centre. Until 1999, the army was integrated into the Force Publique (Public Force), which included the Gendarmerie and the Police, until the Gendarmerie was merged with the Grand Ducal Police under a different minister in 2000.
In 2002 the AMF(L) was dissolved. ===Recent international operations=== Luxembourg has participated in the Eurocorps since 1994, has contributed troops to the UNPROFOR and IFOR missions in former Yugoslavia, and has participated with a small contingent in the current NATO SFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Following their basic training, these soldiers join the Section de Sports d'Elite de l'Armée (SSEA). === Compagnie D === Compagnie D is the second rifle company – it provided Luxembourg's contribution to NATO's ACE Mobile Force (Land) (disbanded in 2002) as the Luxembourg Reconnaissance Company.
In 2010 Luxembourg adopted their own camouflage pattern. == Careers == === Officers === Those who have completed high school will enter a special thirteen-week basic training in the Army as warrant officers, then attend the military officer school for five years (normally in Brussels, Belgium), before becoming a lieutenant in the Luxembourg Army. Aspiring officers are sent to the Belgian École Royale Militaire in Brussels, or the Ecole Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr in France.
On 19 May 2011, Company B was redesignated as the Service de Reconversion (Reconversion Service) with the mission to prepare volunteer soldiers for the return to civilian life.
As of December 2018, it has 939 personnel. The army is under civilian control, with the grand duke as commander-in-chief.
The Minister for Defence, François Bausch (starting 5 December 2018), oversees army operations.
It has a strength of 414 professional soldiers with a total budget of approximately $320 million, or 0.55% of GDP in 2019. The Luxembourg Army is a battalion-sized formation with four separate compagnies (companies) under the control of the Centre Militaire (Military Centre), located in the Caserne Grand-Duc Jean barracks on Herrenberg hill near the town of Diekirch.
All text is taken from Wikipedia. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License .
Page generated on 2021-08-05