Alsace and Lorraine chronology of jurisdiction

Helen Stukenborg

http://progenealogists.com/germany/images/alsacelorraine.jpg

General BackgroundAlsace-Lorraine is an area of land set on the borders of France and Germany, and due to its ideal location and history it has been sought after by both countries.

http://www.cruisefrance.com/alsace/images/alsace_lorraine.jpg

The area is influenced by both Germany and France in its laws, languages, and customs.

Before 1648Alsace is part of the Holy Roman

Empire

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Before 1648At this time the Holy Roman Empire held wide control over, but more specifically in the area of Alsace-Lorraine there was a major German influence. Although Germany was not a united country at the time, the Germanic culture and language greatly influenced Alsace-Lorraine.

It could be said that Alsace-Lorraine began as a German state.

Before 1648The area of Alsace-Lorraine was at the center of Charlemagne’s French empire in the 9th century and later became part of the Holy Roman Empire

Holy Roman Empire had control of Alsace and Lorraine, and was the dominating power at the time making up much of Europe.

1648Alsace becomes part of France

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1648In gaining Alsace, France began to form the need to maintain their “natural borders”, which included the Pyrenees, the Alps, and the Rhine River.

The area of Alsace and Lorraine bordered the Rhine River, and from this time on France saw the land as theirs to claim.

1648Alsace was conquered by Louis XIV in the 17th century during the 30 years war.

The Peace of Westphalia concluding the 30 Years War ceded the land Alsace-Lorraine to France.

This marked the decline of the Holy Roman Empire as seen by its loss of land, and the rise of France as seen by its gained land and power

1766Lorraine becomes part of France

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1766Lorraine became part of France under the rule of Louis XV.

Again, The French idea of natural borders made it so they thought Lorraine was without a doubt French land.

Although Lorraine became part of France it and Alsace were not combines as Alsace-Lorraine until later.

1648 and 1766

Although Alsace and Lorraine were a part of France they held many German ties, such as language and culture, seeing as they had been a part of the Holy Roman Empire, more specifically the Germanies, for so long.

1871Alsace and Lorraine are annexed to

Germany

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1871The French occupation in Prussia, now Germany, and the Franco-Prussian war sparked the desire for nationalism within German, and with that they wanted to cede Alsace and Lorraine.

Alsace and parts of Lorraine were mostly composed of German speakers, these regions were desired by the German Empire. The German Empire saw this area as a part of Germany, and felt it necessary that it be returned to its now unified roots.

1871The area of Alsace-Lorraine was ceded to Germany from France after the Franco-Prussian war, under the Treaty of Frankfurt. This war marked the unification of Germany, and Germany quickly established itself as the main power in continental Europe.

It was only from 1871 when the Treaty of Frankfurt was signed that stated Lorraine was separate, and that the expression Alsace-Lorraine was used.

During WWI 1914-1918Alsace and Lorraine are under control

of Germany during WWI

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During WWI 1914-1918Both sides utilized the area, but mostly Germany seeing as Alsace-Lorraine was under their control during the war. Due to the proximity of the front, German troops confiscated homes.

France not trusting Germany and Germany not trusting France, both parties aimed their hatred at Alsace and Lorraine. For example, Alsatians living in France were arrested and placed into camps by the French authorities.

During WWI 1914-1918A lot of the separation and ceding of Alsace-Lorraine had to do with language, and so Germany banned the speaking of French in the area. The also did so to limit sympathy for the French.

The Germans knew that Alsatians held ties with France, and to limit this they banned the French language, but also put most of their military men from Alsace and Lorraine on the Eastern Front.

1919Alsace becomes part of France after

World War I

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1919The signing of the Treaty of Versailles after World War I restored Alsace and Lorraine to France. Also under Woodrow Wilsons’s 14 Points Alsace-Lorraine would be restored to France.

Alsace-Lorraine was now called Alsace-Moselle.

The French Government immediately started a Francization campaign that included the forced deportation of all Germans who had settled in the area after 1870.

During the war Alsace and Lorraine was a key area, separating two prominent powers of Germany and France.

1919Seeing as Germany was blamed for World War I, the other countries, Allie powers, saw it best that Germany’s power be limited and it be punished for its wrongdoing.

Under the Treaty of Versailles Alsace-Moselle was given back to France, in an effort to limit German influence, and to please the French, who were on the Allies side.

1939-1945Alsace-Lorraine(Moselle) is part of

Germany during World War II

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1939-1945Again during the second World War Germany had control of Alsace-Moselle.

The Third Reich did not officially take control of Alsace-Moselle until 1940.

Hitler was able to officially cede Alsace-Lorraine due to a series of secret laws, after France was defeated in 1940.

1939-1945Starting from 1942, Alsatian and Mosellan men, especially young men, were enrolled by force into the German Nazi army

Alsatians and Mosellans were enrolled especially to fight on the east front against Stalin's army.

Those who fought were referred malgré nous, or “unwillings”, because they had grown close to the French and did not want to fight against their home country.

World War I/IIWhen looking at the two World Wars a lot is similar in the way that Germany handled Alsace-Lorraine. Understanding that Alsace-Lorraine did have great loyalty to France the Germans sought to cut off French ties to inevitably cut of the loyalty. This lead to the isolation of the people, and the banning of French language and culture.

Within the wars those from Alsace-Lorraine were further separated. They were sent to the East front of both wars to avoid France, usually forcibly.

It became clear that although under German control, and with their German roots, the Alsace and Lorraine people truly respected and admired their French influence.

1946-presentAlsace is part of France

http://0.tqn.com/d/goeurope/1/0/3/0/2/alsace-france-map.png

PresentAlsace and Lorraine (Alsace-Moselle) are currently part of France and the departments of Bas-Rhin, “Lower Rhine”.

Although the people of Alsace and Lorraine are French they still have strong German roots and backgrounds.

The towns with Bas-Rhin actually have German names, dating back to their Germanic roots.

PresentToday, these territories enjoy laws that are significantly different from the rest of France, these specific provisions are known as the local law, which preserve a lot of German law with some French influence.

The common laws were meant to be temporary, but set no time limit, and still remain today.

OverallBoth Germany and France felt, and even still feel today, that Alsace-Lorraine naturally belong to them.

Seeing as both sides share deep ties with Alsace-Lorraine it has identities with both cultures. Also considering its location, it can not help but be influenced by both Germany and France no matter which country it belongs to.

TimelinePa

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Holy

Rom

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Empi

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164

8 Franc

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ce16

48 Franc

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rraine

1766

Germany 1871

Franc

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19

Germany1939

Franc

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36- p

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nt

For the more part France has had possession of Alsace-Lorraine, as

compared to Germany, but taking into account the German influence of the

Holy Roman Empire and the Germanic roots that took place, Alsace-Lorraine could be considered more German.

30 Ye

ar’s

War

Franco-Prussian

War

World W

ar I

World

War

II

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map.png>.

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<http://progenealogists.com/germany/images/alsacelorraine.jpg>.

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<http://library.umaine.edu/wwIIposters/content/IMG48851.JPG>.

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<http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Alsace-lorraine.JPG/250px-Alsace-lorraine.JPG>.

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<http://expelledgermans.org/alsace_map.jpg>.

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<http://www.bargetravelpoints.com/images/Maps/AlsaceLorraine.jpg>.

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<http://www.cruisefrance.com/alsace/images/alsace_lorraine.jpg>.

Happy End of Third Quarter!!!

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