Historically, Luxembourgs geographic situation made its military significance so great that conquerors could not afford to give up on it. Each conqueror would improve on the defenses, yet another would come along soon to overrun them. A castle on the
Bock and two battlements encircling the old city were established as early as the 10th century; a third ring of fortification was added in the 14th century.
After being batted back and forth for centuries, Luxembourg gained independence, a constitution, permanent neutrality, and the protection of Europes great powers in 1867. But the tranquility lasted less than half a century, for Germany violated Luxembourgs neutrality during both World Wars, invading in 1914, then again in 1940. After the second World War, Luxembourg abandoned neutrality in favor of aligning itself with the west and the European Union.
