63 historical periodicals uploaded by the BnL New content on eluxemburgensia.lu

As part of its ambitious programme to digitise its printed heritage, the National Library (BnL) is proud to announce the online publication of 63 historical periodicals, comprising over 403,680 pages and 61,231 issues. These historically significant documents are now freely accessible on the eluxemburgensia.lu platform, offering everyone the opportunity to rediscover key aspects of Luxembourg’s history and culture.

This initiative marks a major step forward in the preservation and dissemination of our national heritage. The digitised publications, spanning a wide range of genres and themes, reflect the evolution of ideas, debates and events that have shaped the cultural, intellectual and social fabric of the country.

Notable publications

Newspapers

The digitised newspapers include Der Landwirth (1877-1941) and Luxemburger Zeitung (1868-1941). The latter is one of the most significant daily papers in the history of Luxembourg’s press. Published six times a week, it introduced up to two daily editions from 1902 onwards. Batty Weber served as editor-in-chief from 1893 to 1922, after which he continued overseeing the cultural pages and the feuilleton, in particular the daily column Abreiß-Kalender (1913-1940).

Trade union press

Three titles have been added to the trade union press on the eluxemburgensia.lu portal: Die Laterne by Lëtzebuerger Bierg an Hütte Verband d’Esch-sur-Alzette and Der Gewerkschaftler, organe officiel des syndicats libres luxembourgeois, both from 1917. They were succeeded, in 1919, by Der Proletarier, established as the unions’ official publication.

Feminist publications

Among the most noteworthy additions were two feminist titles advocating for the rights of women in Luxembourg society and politics: Die Luxemburgerin. Zeitschrift für die gesamten Fraueninteressen Luxemburgs (1933-1937) by Emma-Weber-Brugmann and D’Letzebuergerin (1945-1946) founded by the Union des Femmes luxembourgeoises following the Liberation.

Cultural press

The cultural press includes short-lived yet significant literary titles such as Floréal (1907-1908), Clarté (1945), Ösling (1938) by Evy Friedrich and Die Tribüne (1935) by Franz Clément.

War and Resistance publications

Publications addressing the First and Second World Wars, as well as Resistance literature are also available online. These include the magazine The Fifth Division Diamond (1919), published by the American army in Luxembourg, and Luxembourg Resistance publications Die Wahrheit (Communist resistance) and Ons Zeidong (Alweraje), published between 1940 and 1942. These works, often created at great personal risk, were digitised from original prints.

Publications of the Nazi occupiers

The official publications of the occupying power, Verordnungsblatt für Luxemburg (1940-1944) and Öffentlicher Anzeiger zum Verordnungsblatt für Luxemburg (1941-1944), complement the wartime collection. The Mitteilungsblatt, a publication comprising 8 issues from 1941 to 1942, documented the activities and decisions of the Stillhaltekommissar für das Organisationswesen in Luxemburg. The Stillhaltekommissar sought to align Luxembourg’s associations with Nazi ideology and to seize the assets of banned organisations.

Educational and student publications

The BnL has also just begun its first campaign to digitise educational publications. Highlights include the journal Fortschritt, seeking to promote dialogue and intellectual discourse between teachers, and L’Économiste du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, featuring economics lectures by Professor Eugène Tedesco (1829-1889). Additionally, the collection includes publications relating to student life, such as Voix des Jeunes (1917-1969) and Tribune du Clan des Jeunes (1949-1965).