This website provides information about the history of my hometown Bigonville in Luxembourg during the war years. Feel free to have a look at World War II as they once lived it...
The individual recollections and reports may differ or contain misleading information. These are provided as submitted or retrieved from archives and sources.
The investigation and research is still in progress. The site is constantly growing. It's up to you to put the various bits and pieces together to get a view of these days in World War II.
Center of the village prior to the Battle of the Bulge. Photo by Nic. Molitor.
Local history
Bigonville (Luxembourgish: Bungerëf, German: Bondorf) is a small town in the municipality of Rambrouch, in western Luxembourg. The town has a population of about 600.
The origin of the village may have started with Roman buildings and road installations. After the decline of the Roman Empire, the property changed authorities several times. The village first appeared in official documents in 1300.
The French Revolution ended the reign of the Lords of Bigonville. The French state system was installed in Luxembourg, creating cantons, districts and municipalities. In 1796, Bigonville was annexed to the canton of Fauvillers, which was divided between Belgium and the Grand Duchy in 1839. Bigonville was then attached to the canton of Ospern. Primarily agricultural, Bigonville boasted a feudal castle, destroyed in the early 19th century, and still bears witness to significant Roman finds.
Following the liberation by the Americans on Christmas Eve 1944, Bigonville, which had been occupied by German soldiers, was reduced to ashes.
Bigonville was a commune in the canton of Redange until 1 January 1979, when it was merged with the communes of Arsdorf, Folschette, and Perlé to form the new commune of Rambrouch. The law creating Rambrouch was passed on 27 July 1978.
Lokalarchiv
Eine aussergewöhnliche Möglichkeit, in die Vergangenheit von Bigonville, Bungerëf, einzutauchen bieten die Festbroschüren der verschiedenen Lokalvereine. Diese Veröffentlichungen stehen unter der Adresse https://bigonville.info/lokalarchiv.php als PDF in digitaler Form zur Verfügung.
