The liberation of Luxembourg by the U.S. Army in September 1944 has left an indelible mark on Luxembourgish collective memory. By contrast, the liberation of the Grand Duchy by American troops at the end of the First World War remains largely unknown. After four years of occupation, the German army finally left Luxembourg in the wake of the Armistice of 11 November 1918. Their retreat was closely followed by the arrival of the victorious Entente armies. Soldiers of the American Expeditionary Forces (A.E.F.) were the first to be welcomed as liberators by the people of Luxembourg.