World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseJean Benoit Guillaume Robert Antoine Louis Marie Adolphe Marc d'Aviano was born at the Berg Castle in Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg in 1921 to Grand Duchess Charlotte and Prince Félix. He attended primary school and the beginning of secondary school in Luxembourg, and then completed secondary school at Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom. In 1940, the Grand Ducal family escaped the advancing Germans, first seeking refuge in Paris, France, and then relocated to Brookville, New York, United States. During this time, Jean initially studied Law and Political Science at the Université Laval in Quebec City, Canada, then volunteered for the Irish Guards of the British Army in Nov 1942. Upon graduating from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, he was commissioned an officer of the British Army in 1943. In that role, he participated in the Allied invasion of Normandie, France, seeing action in British uniform in the battle for the city of Caen. He later saw action during the liberation of Brussels, Belgium before advancing into Luxembourg, flanked by his British comrades. For his WW2 service, he was awarded the British War Medal, the French Croix de Guerre, the American Silver Star, and the Luxembourg Military Medal. After the war, he joined the International Olympic Committee in 1946. He relinquished his British commission in 1947 (although he would be made the honorary colonel of the Irish Guards in 1984). In Apr 1953, he married Princess Joséphine-Charlotte, daughter of King Leopold III of Belgium and Princess Astrid of Sweden; they would have five children. In Nov 1964, upon his mother's abdication, he became the Grand Duke of Luxembourg. His reign was characterized by Luxembourg's rise as an important financial center and by his efforts toward European unity. In Oct 2000, he abdicated and was succeeded by his son Henri. In the summer of 2002, he moved to Fischbach Castle in Fischbach, Luxembourg. In 2005, Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte passed away. Grand Duke Jean passed away due to complications from a pulmonary infection in Apr 2019.

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