The Karelshaff and the Second World War

Reading our article titled “From Hunting Lodge to Farm,” some readers recalled deeply buried memories. One of them wanted to share these memories with us by letter. These events date back to the dark times of the Nazi occupation.

“As mentioned in the Tageblatt article dated August 10th, the Von Roesgen family was already managing the Karelshaff at that time, then owned by the Grand Ducal family. The Nazis quickly seized the farm to resell it to a German compatriot. A man from Trier acquired it at an outrageously low price,” recounts the letter’s author.

According to him, this transaction had the dramatic consequence of forcing the departure of the Charles von Roesgen family. “It was a real disaster, not only for the family itself but also for all those whom Karelshaff sheltered or protected from the Nazis. War objectors, resistance fighters, a foreman from Arbed, a cousin, my father—who was a young lawyer at the time—my mother, and I all found refuge there,” testifies Dony Calmes.

Shortly after the sale, voices arose accusing the Trier buyer of acquiring the farm solely to house his son and protect him from forced enlistment in the Wehrmacht. The Nazis then accused him of double treason against the homeland. Forced to flee, the man went underground and was only heard of again after the Liberation.

He then claimed the right to “his property.” But when the Luxembourg authorities refused, he took the matter to court. The trial, held in Trier, was swift.