Victor Bodson

Victor Nicolas Bodson (24 March 1902 – 29 June 1984) was a socialist Luxembourgish politician and lawyer who held the posts of Minister of Justice, Public Works, and Transport for long periods of time in the 1940s and 1950s, including in exile during World War II, when Luxembourg was occupied by Nazi Germany.

He is recognised as Righteous Among the Nations awarded by Yad Vashem for his actions during the Holocaust in occupied Luxembourg, in which he helped Jews escape persecution from the German government.

[2] On the international level, his anti-fascist convictions led him to actively support refugee exiles from Nazi Germany, and the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War.

[3] As Consul for the Republic of Spain, organised events to raise solidarity, awareness and funds for the Republican cause (conferences, festivals, etc.)

[3] On 6 April 1940, he became Minister for Justice, Public Works and Transport, replacing his political mentor René Blum.

Most of the government quickly departed Luxembourg City in a motorcade, but Bodson stayed behind at the Saint-Esprit Barracks to monitor the situation.

He later fled and, using his knowledge of Luxembourg's secondary roads garnered while motorcycling, he was able to avoid German roadblocks and escape to France.

[10] This physical split-up of the government would last only a year, but weighed heavily on Bodson, who felt far away from the heart of matters, and from the war.

Relations between the ministers were not always straightforward, and the government in exile's history was marked by numerous disagreements such as over the various ministries' prerogatives, matters of protocol, or minor issues of an administrative or logistical nature.

[11] Towards the end of the war, disagreements became more frequent, as the liberation of Luxembourg was in process and the government's return to the country was coming closer, heralding many political changes.

Bodson in 1935
Victor Bodson Bridge in Hesperange, Luxembourg