After the Franco-Prussian war of 1871, almost all of Alsace and the north-eastern part of Lorraine were ceded to Germany by the Frankfurt Treaty. The disputed areas, whose historical belonging is ambiguous, have changed their owners more than once, embodying a symbol of interstate conflict. Today, Alsace and Lorraine are located in eastern France. They have become the main crossroads of Europe, hosting many international organizations and pan-European institutions.
Between France and Germany
The rich history of the two regions located between France and Germany can hardly give clear answers about their ownership. At the turn of our era, the population of Alsace and Lorraine consisted of Celtic tribes. During the invasion of Gaul by the Germanic tribes in the 4th century, the territory of Lorraine fell under the rule of the Franks, and Alsace was occupied by the Alemans. The subjugated local population underwent linguistic assimilation.
In the era of the reign of Charlemagne, the possession of the Frankish kingswere united into one large state. However, after the death of the king of Aquitaine (Charles' successor) in 840, the kingdom was divided among his sons, which subsequently led to the division of Lorraine according to the Treaty of Meerssen. Alsace became part of the East Frankish state, which later became Germany.
From the 10th to the 17th centuries, as history shows, Alsace and Lorraine were under German influence (mainly through dynastic ties) and were part of the Holy Roman Empire of the German nation. However, in the XVII-XVIII centuries, France again managed to gradually annex the main lands of ancient Austrasia to its territories. This period was especially difficult for Alsace, which became a theater of war in the confrontation of several states at once.
In 1674, French troops manage to occupy 10 imperial cities. A few years later, through political manipulation and intimidation, he takes the oath of France and Strasbourg. And in 1766, Lorraine became part of it.
Within the German Empire
The Franco-Prussian conflict of 1870-1871, provoked by the Prussian Chancellor O. Bismarck, ended in the complete defeat of France. After the signing of the peace treaty in Frankfurt, Alsace and part of Lorraine went to the German Empire, proclaimed by the united German state.
The new border division gave the empire military-strategic superiority. Now the border with France, thanks to Alsace, was moved beyond the Rhine and the Vosges mountains and, in the event of an attack, wasformidable obstacle. Lorraine, on the other hand, has become a convenient springboard in case an attack on France is necessary.
The German government, ignoring the protests of the population, tried to thoroughly consolidate the selected areas in the empire. Enormous resources were allocated for post-war reconstruction, work was resumed at the University of Strasbourg, ruined castles were reconstructed. Along with this, the use of the French language was strictly prohibited, the press was published only in German, and localities were renamed. There was a tough persecution of separatist sentiments.
Status of Imperial lands
The German Empire, having finally secured the status of imperial territories for the disputed territories in 1879, united them into a single region. Previously, Alsatians and Lorraine were invited to choose on their own in which state they wish to live. More than 10% of the population opted for French citizenship, but only 50 thousand people were able to emigrate to France.
The administrative division of Alsace-Lorraine included three large districts: Lorraine, Upper Alsace and Lower Alsace. In turn, the districts were subdivided into districts. The total area of the region was 14496 sq. km. with a population of over 1.5 million people. The former city of France - Strasbourg - becomes the capital of the imperial land.
It should be noted that Germany did not stop trying to win the sympathy of the inhabitants of the annexed territories and in every possible way showed concern for them. In particular, it has been improvedinfrastructure, and much attention was paid to the educational system. However, the imposed regime continued to cause discontent among the population of the region, brought up in the spirit of the French Revolution.
Government of Alsace-Lorraine
At first, administrative power in the subject territory was exercised by the chief president appointed by the emperor, who had the right to maintain order by all means, not excluding military force. At the same time, Alsace-Lorraine did not have local governments, it was offered 15 seats in the German Reichstag, and for the first decades they completely belonged to the candidates of the left-bourgeois protest party. There were no representatives of the region in the Union Council of the empire.
At the end of the 70s of the 19th century, concessions came, and the military regime softened a little. As a result of the reorganization of the administration, a local representative body (landesausshus) was formed, and the post of chief president was replaced by the governor (stadtholder). However, in 1881, the situation was again tightened, new restrictions were introduced, in particular regarding the use of the French language.
On the way to autonomy
In Alsace-Lorraine, supporters of the autonomy of the region within the framework of the German Empire gradually began to gain votes. And in the elections to the Reichstag in 1893, the protesting party no longer had its former success: 24% of the votes were given to the Social Democratic movement, which contributed a lot to the Germanization of the population. A year earlier, the dictatorship-paragraph was canceledAct of 1871, and from that time the imperial lands were under common law.
By 1911, Alsace-Lorraine received some autonomy, which provided for a constitution, a local legislature (Landtag), its own flag and anthem. The region received three seats in the Reichsrath. However, the policy of Germanization and discrimination of the local population did not stop, and in 1913 led to serious clashes (Tsabern Incident).
Industrial Province
On the territory of Alsace-Lorraine there was one of the most significant iron ore basins in Europe. However, Bismarck and his associates were not very concerned about the development of local industry; the priority was to strengthen the alliance between the German lands, using this region. The Chancellor of the Empire divided the local coal mines among the governments of the German states.
The Empire tried to artificially restrain the development of Alsatian deposits in order to prevent competition for companies from Westphalia and Silesia. The entrepreneurs of the province were systematically denied by the German authorities in their applications for the organization of railway lines and waterways. Nevertheless, Alsace-Lorraine contributed well to the economic development of Germany in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. And the influx of German capital helped bring the local bourgeoisie closer to the German one.
Without us
The territorial conflict between Germany and France became one of the reasons for the start of the world war in 1914. The unwillingness of the latter to reconcilewith the lost areas ruled out any possibility of reconciliation between them.
With the outbreak of hostilities, the Alsatians and Lorraine categorically refused to fight in the German army, in every possible way ignoring the general mobilization. Their motto is a laconic phrase: "Without us!" Indeed, for them this war for the most part seemed fratricidal, since members of many families of the province served in both the German and French armies.
The Empire introduced a strict military dictatorship into the imperial lands: an absolute ban on the French language, strict censorship of personal correspondence. The military personnel of this region were constantly under suspicion. They were not involved in outposts, they were hardly allowed to go on leave, and the vacation periods were cut. At the beginning of 1916, Alsace-Lorraine soldiers were sent to the Eastern Front, which led to the aggravation of problems in this area.
Liquidation of the imperial province
The Versailles Peace Treaty of 1919 was the official end of the First World War of 1914-1918, where Germany recognized its complete surrender. One of the peace conditions was the return of France previously selected areas - Alsace and Lorraine - to their borders in 1870. The long-awaited revenge of the French became possible thanks to the troops of the allies, including the United States of America.
October 17, 1919 Alsace-Lorraine as an imperial province of the German Empire and an independent geographical unit was liquidated. Territories with a mixed German-French population were included incomposition of the French Republic.
