Claus Cito (1882-1965) who created the “Monument du Souvenir” commonly known as “’Gëlle Fra”, studied art at the School of Applied Arts and at the Art Academy in Stuttgart where he acquired in-depth knowledge. Enthralled by the Social Realism of Constantin Meunier, Cito settled in Brussels in 1909. Having won the “Monument du Souvenir” competition, he returned to Bascharage in 1922 in order to set up his own small business in a workshop. During the 1930s, his small company continued to develop and orders poured in before the Second World War brought the business to an abrupt end. During the post-war years, the master created his late works: seven war memorials in Luxembourg’s southern communities.
In May 1941, Robert Krieps (1922-1990) was expelled from secondary school for resisting the political pressure being applied by the German occupying forces. In October the same year, he joined a resistance movement and was later arrested with his father and imprisoned in Hinzert and in Luxembourg-Grund before being finally deported to the concentration camps in Natzweiler and Dachau, from where he was liberated in April 1945.
He went back to school to finish his secondary education and then studied law at the “Cours supérieur” in Luxembourg and university of Nancy until 1948. While practising as a lawyer, Robert Krieps launched his political career by joining the socialist party in 1948. Elected as Member of the City Council of Luxembourg and Member of the Luxembourg Parliament, he became Minister for Justice, National Education, Culture and Environment in 1974 and 1984. He was elected as a Member of the European Parliament in 1989 and died one year later on 1 August 1990.
René Engelmann (1880-1915) was one of the first English teachers in Luxembourg at the Diekirch secondary school. He studied Latin, French, German and English at the Cours supérieur in Luxembourg and at universities in Paris and Berlin from 1899 bis 1903. He took his own life at the age of 34.
Engelmann made his name with works dealing with the Luxembourg language, his literature and works relating to literary history were published after his death. “Auf heimatlichen Pfaden” features four novellas, which are often set in Vianden and place women in central roles. He also completed the studies “Victor Hugo à Vianden” and “Aus einem alten Viandener Hausregister 1770-1806”.
Issue Date: 05.05.2015 Designer: Anne Mélan (L) Printer: Bpost Stamps Factory, Malines (B) Process: Multicoloured high resolution offset Colours: 4 Colours Size: 27,66 x 40,20 mm Values: €1,80
