Figure 1.-- This illustratiom was captioed, "Debout! Nos morts pour la patrie . . . voici la France! (Stand up! Those who have died for our country . . . This is France!) Rear view of an Alsatian woman and her two children. They are on a hill overlooking a cemetery full of soldiers' graves. This poster is a call to the Alsatians to support the war. We knowthis because of the woman's Alsatian clothing. We are ot sure when during the Wr it was created, but the soldier's helmet for some reaon id British not French. Yje poster was printed in Paris. Illustratir: Lucien Jonas (1880-1947). .

Presumably the difference in school attire even after the two provinces were reunited with France after World War I. The French deported some German families to Germany. Smocks were no longer required schoolwear, but they were still widely worn by French boys in the inter-war period. I am not sure how common they were in Alscae-Loraine during this period. Presumably nearly 50 years of German control meant that school smocks were not common, but this requires confirmation. A French reader reports that, "Normally in France the church is strictly separeted from the state and get no government funds. Alsace was an exception. The population there pays a tax for the church. HBC is not sure if this is an artifact of the period of German annexation (1871-1919) or if has a longer history. A HBC reader writes, "The ones who changed the language of instruction were the French, after they took Alsace-Lorraine (without asking the consent of the governed) in 1918. Then--for the first time ever--French was made the language of instruction, even though almost no one could understand it." [Peaseley] As during the period of German control (1871-1918), there was continued interest in autonomy after the French regained Alsace in 1918. We are unable to gage the strength of this movement or public opinion. A HBC reader writes, "By the late 1920s, the overwhelmingly German population of Alsace-Lorraine had had it with France and would have gone back if permitted. The French brutally suppressed these popular desires, and pro-German organizers were imprisoned. Some died in prison, and their burial places remain state secrets of France." [Peaseley] [HBC note: We are not sure that it is correct to describe the Alsace-Lorraine popularion as "overwealming German", especially the Lorraine population. As to Alsace I believe our reader is classifying Alsatian speakers as Germans. We do not believe that this is approprite as many Alsatian families saw themselves as French or as Alsatians rather than French or German.]

Holy Roman Empire

Alsace was part of the very complicated structure of the historic Holy Roman Empire. Historians describe the Holy Roman Empire as neither Holy, Roman, or an empire. It was more of a weak condederation. It was a complicated structure which developed during the meieval era. There were some large principalities and smaller privices as well as cities and ecleiatical units. This meant that Alsace was within the German political and cultural sphere during the medieval era. The imperil structure waspart of the reason tht Germay unlike England, France, and Spain did ot developminto a string nation state. But it i create a community of German states. nd it is part of the reason that the Alsatian language is more German than French. In German history the HolyE oman Empire becme known as the First Reich. The Holy Roman Empire was finally disolved by Napoleon (1808).

French Rule (1639-71)

The German orienttion continued until the European religiouswars--specifcvally the Thirty Years War (1619-48). The war devestated the Holy Roman Empire. By this time the balance of power was shifting toward France. The Holy Roman Empire was potentially the most pwerful state in Europe, but was not a ventralized state. France in contrast was becoming an increasingly centralized and poweful. Much of Alsance was conquered by France (1639). Tne objective was to deny it to the Spanish Hapsburg who ha family connections with the Austrian haburgs who the Holy Roman emperors. They wanted a a territorial connection between the Empire and the Spanish (Hapsburg) Netherlands. The problems for the Hapsburgs was that while the Spanish Netherlands was a very valuable provinces, the Dutch proved rebelious and perhaps even worse--Protestant. The Dutch War for Independence had begun decades before. Finally the Austrian Hapsburgs made a stratehic decision, giving up on the family effort to supress rebellio and Protestantism in the Netherlands and focus on neigboring Huugary. So to be able to concentrate on Hungary, the Habsburgs sold their Sundgau (south shire) territory in Upper Alsace to France for 1.2 million Thalers (1646). Shortly afterwards, Thirty Years War hostilities finlly ended by the Treaty of Westphalia (1648). Most of Alsace was recognized as French Territory. The Treaty dealt with Alsace in some detail. Some cities were given indepenent status. The French monachy was granted sovereignty, but existing rights and customs of the inhabitants were to a substantial degree preserved.

Franco-Prussian War (1870-71)

Prussian Chancelor Bismarck enginered the Franco-Prussin war (1870-71). He mananaged to to bring about a French attack. Franco-Prussian relations deteriorated over the issue of a Hohenzollern candidate for the Spanish throne (1868). While known as the Franco-Prussian war, other German states joined Prussia. Napoleon III based his regime on the aura of the Great Empeor and saw himself as a military genius. He was not. Nor was the French nation of to a war with the uniting German nation. France for nearly three centuries had been the strongest continental military power, most prominntly unfer Louis XIV and and then Napoleon I.Many thought this was still the case. Bismarck and the Prussian army demonstrated this was no longer the case. Bismarck used the war and the quick ensuing Prussian victory as mechanismn for uniting Germany. The Fremh were decisuvely defeated at the Battle of sedan. The Prussians invested Paris and Wilhem I was crowned Emperor (Kaiser) in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. The German Empire became known as the Secnd Reich. As part of the subsequent peace settlment, France had to pay an enormous endminty and ceeded contril of alsace-Loraine making the defense of france more difficult in any fture war. For France, it was a sobering and costly experience.

German Rule (1871-1918)

European Diplomacy

French officials bitterly conceded the loss if the two provinces and theur recovery became a national passion. They realized, however, that France could not fight the Germans again without allies. Bismarck who had conceled against a hard peace with Frabce sought to prevent thisith aiplomatic policy of a treaty arrangenents with both Tsarist Russian and Austria-Hungary. A major war in Europe anf French recovery of Alsace-Loraine were imposible as long as the the three empeors were united in a treatly reltionship, hus as Bismrck had calculated. Both Kaiser Wilhelm I and his son Frederich died (1881). This brough Frederih's son Wilhelm to the throne as Wilhelm II. This was known as theyear of the three emperors. Bismarck and wilhelm I had groomed the young Wilhelm. His parents, incluuding theBritih Princess Toyal, were liberal. Wilhelm was much more conservative like his grandfather. Not only was he encourged to reject his parents liberal thinking, but he was encouraged to belkieve that he was an kindividual of extrodinary skills. Omce in power he began to see Nismarck as old, cautios, and plodding. After easing out Bismarck, heallowed the Reinsurance Treaty to lapse. This permitted France to negotiate an ally it so badly needed. And Germany found itself with potentual enemies in vith the East and west. France also sought to develop security arrangements with britain. Eventually, German invasion of neutral Belgium would fundamentally change British forein policy and give Frace a vital ally.

World War I Campaign (1914-18)

After the German invasion of neutral Belgium, France elected to rashly attaclk German border forts in an attempt to retake Alsace-Loraine (August 1914). Sone of the vest divisions in the French army werre badly mauled. Thisledt the French Army weakened and unable to effectively resist the German drive though Belium. The Russians libing up to their treaty obligations, attcked in the East. Thisforced the Germans to transfer forces to the Eastern Front. And the brave resistance of the small Belgian Army and swift arrival of the British Expeditionry Force (BEF) managed to slow the Germans. They wre ulimately stopped o the Marne (September 1914). This mean t tht the the swift victory achieved in the Franco-Prussian war was not replcated n World war I. The result was a long, protravted war enued anf the greter materil resources of the Allies began o wear down the Germans. And if that was moy enough, Kaiser Wilhelm II evenyully brought America into the war by resuming unrestricted submarine warfare (Aril 1917). The result was a dsterous German defeat and French recovery of Alsace-Loraine. TheFrench insisted on thesame heavy reparations tht theGermans had forced upon them/ .

Recovery of Alsace-Loraine

School attire

Presumably the difference in school attire even after the two provinces were reunited with France after World War I. Smocks were no longer required schoolwear, but they were still widely worn by French boys in the inter-war period. I am not sure how common they were in Alscae-Loraine during this period. Presumably nearly 50 years of German control meant that school smocks were not common, but this requires confirmation.

Deportations

The French deported some German families to Germany. These were German families who came to Alscae-Lorraine after the provinvces were annex by Germany in 1871. Te French limited the property they could take back to Germany with them.

French cultural policies

A HBC reader writes, "By the late 1920s, the overwhelmingly German population of Alsace-Lorraine had had it with France and would have gone back if permitted. The French brutally suppressed these popular desires, and pro-German organizers were imprisoned. Some died in prison, and their burial places remain state secrets of France." [Peaseley] [HBC note: We are not sure that it is correct to describe the Alsace-Lorraine popularion as "overwealming German", especially the Lorraine population. As to Alsace I believe our reader is classifying Alsatian speakers as Germans. We do not believe that this is approprite as many Alsatian families saw themselves as French or as Alsatians rather than French or German.]

Our HBC reader rsponds, "I am not saying that every Alsatian wanted to be a German citizen, but, as I understand it, when the French started surprising the area's indigenous language and culture post-1918, the Alsatians as a group came to understand what cultural tyranny was. My information about "going back if permitted" is based on readings on the electoral situation in Alsace and eastern Lorraine in the 1920s and 1930s. I have not consulted such documents in at least 10 years. Also, while many German-speaking Alsatians may have preferred to live in republican France to and Nazi Germany, that does not mean that they would have preferred, in the abstract, to be part of the French Nation instead of the German Nation. [Peaseley]

Religious Role

A French reader reports that, "Normally in France the church is strictly separeted from the state and get no government funds. Alsace was an exception. The population there pays a tax for the church. HBC is not sure if this is an artifact of the period of German annexation (1871-1919) or if has a longer history.

Schools

A HBC reader writes, "The ones who changed the language of instruction were the French, after they took Alsace-Lorraine (without asking the consent of the governed) in 1918. Then--for the first time ever--French was made the language of instruction, even though almost no one could understand it." [Peaseley]

Autonomy Movement

As during the period of German control (1871-1918), there was continued interest in autonomy after the French regained Alsace in 1918. We are unable to gage the strength of this movement or public opinion.

World War II (1939-45)

The Germans regained Alsace-Loraine in 1940 and began a process of Germanizing the population with the elimination of the French language and culture. There were forced relocations and soon drafts in to the German labor squads and military. Teachers were replaced or reducated in the Reich. Instruction was now in German and speaking French not permitted. Alsatian is close to German, but French speaking children were facd with the difficult task of learning German. The beret was banned anmd wearing one was made a criminal offense. One Alsatian boy reported that his first school homework assignment was to draw a Jew. Just as the French had not trusted the Alsatians, neither did the Germans. The French village of Oradour sur Glane was the scene of one of the most vicious German attrocities in France during the War, and Alsatians were deeply involved. It would seem unlikely that boys going to the NAZI-controlled schools in either would have worn smocks during this era of German control. France finally regained the provinces with the Allied victories in 1944.

Sources

Peaseley, Brad. E-mail message, October 9-10, 2002. Our reader reports, "I am the descendant of Alsatians who were pro-French and evidently French-speaking (they had French given names), but German-surnamed (e.g., Baldensperger, Schley) and Lutheran. These ancestors actually migrated about 1871 to a heavily Lutheran town in Belfort--so they could stay in France.