Figure 1.--This was one of Hansi's illustrations of his boyhood in a German school in Alsace after the Franco Prussian War. Presumably he is the boy drawing the French soldiers. He is not too impressed with the teacher's blackboard math or is geography. Notice that on the blackboard, the teacher has written in Gothic script (it is a bit difficult to read), "the great Berlin is the bigger city ot the world". Note the short blue smock-like jacket that one boy wears. A HBC reader has sent us a portrait of his father wearing one of the blue smocks like the boys here.

Much of these two northeastern provinces of France were ceded to Germany in the Treaty of Frankfurt as a result of the disastrous Franco-Prussian War in 1870-71. As a result, when the Third Republic in 1871 mandated smocks in French schools, Alsace-Lorraine were no longer part of France. These were both border provinces and there were already large numbers of German-speakers in both provinces, especially Alsace. During the German annexation the authorities were not brutal. There were none of the forced relocations that were so common in World War II. The principal German interest was economic. Alscase Lorraine is a heavily industrialized areas. (One reader compares the German occupation to the French occupation of the Saar after World War I. HBC is not sure this is a good companison as the Saar was occupied by France not incorprated into France. The French did not take over the local schools, for example, and change instruction into French.) The state schools in Alsace Loraine were taken over by German authorities and the language of instruction became German. Teachers were replaced. I do not know to what extent French language private and Catholic schools were allowed to operate if at all. The majority French population never accepted the German annexation and continued to see themselves as French. This must have resulted in incidents at school. Presumably the teachers saw themselves as Germans and many if not most would have tried to instill German patriotism in the children. Some French families moved, but most of the French-speaking population remained. School smocks must have been much less common in these provinces than the rest of France, if they were worn at all. HBC does not at this time know just how the children dressed in the Alsace Lorraine schools.

Treaty of Frankfurt

These two northeastern provinces of France were ceeded to Germany in the Treaty of Frankfurt as a result of the disastrous Franco-Prussian War in 1870-71. Most of Alsacem except for Belfort, and areas of Lorraine around Metz were ceeded. One result of the War was the creation of a new unified German Empire and King Wilhelm of Prussia was made the first emperor--Kaisser Wilhelm I. In France, Emperor Napoleon III was forced to abdigate and it was the new Third Republic Government which was forced to sign the treaty and pay heavy repatriations. The separation of Alsace-Lorraine was such a pstchological blow to France, that the animosity involved almost pre-prdanined another war which finally came in 1914. German Chancellor Bismarck is often associated with the annexation of Alsace-Lorraine. In actuality he foresaw the dangers of annexing these two provinces in that it would turn France into a bitter enemy. Bismarck had insisted on a soft peace with Austria in 1866 for the same reason and had to confont King Wilhelm on the issue. This time King/Kaiser Wilhelm, the German military, and German public opinion demanded the annexation. The German military in particular saw the possession of Metz in Lorraine as a bulwark against any future French invasion. [Ludwig]

School Smocks

As a result, when the Third Republic in 1871 mandated smocks in French schools, Alsace-Loraine were no longer part of France. Thus smocks were not commonly work in Alsace-Loraine schools. We do not know if some French mothers sent their son's to school in smocks or indeed if the German authorities even permitted this. We have noted a few boys wearing smocks in German schools, but the precise situation in Alsace-Loraine is not known. On the whole, however, smocks do not appear to have been common as they became in France.

German Anexation

These were both border provinces and there were already large numbers of German-speakers in both provinces, especially Alsace. The Alsatian populace generally spoke Alsatian, especially in the rural areas. During the German annexation the authorities were not brutal. There were none of the forced relocations that were so common in World War II. Some French families moved, but most of the French-speaking population remained.

Economics

The principal German interest was economic. Alscase Loraine is a heavily industrialized areas. (One reader compares the German occupation to the French occupation of the Saar after World War I. HBC is not sure this is a good companison as the Saar was occupied by France not incorprated into France. The French did not take over the local schools, for example, and change instruction into French.)

Schools

The state schools in Alsace Loraine were taken over by German authorities. We had thought that they immediately changed the language of instruction to German. The existing teachers at the time of annexation were for the most part not capable of teaching German. In addition the German authorities probably did not trust the former French teachers, viewing them as loyal to France rather than Germany--probably with good reason. As a result teachers were replaced. I do not know to what extent French language private and Catholic schools were allowed to operate if at all. A HBC reader reports that in the Catholic schools, the staff were not replaced but many hours of compulsory German lessons were made mandatory. We had thought that both instruction and examinations were in German. A HBC reader takes issue with this and writes, "Your historical notes on Alsace contain a serious error. After taking over Alsace-Lorraine in 1871, the Germans did not generally change the language on instruction in the schools. Rather, the language of instruction in pre-1871 Alsace-Lorraine--even in the French state schools--was German and always had been. Interestingly, the pre-1871 French state schools did not operate in that Alsatian dialect that everyone's so excited about these days. The French (like the Germans in 1871-1918) educated in standard German.Indeed, the Germans were careful to annex only the territories that the French themselves had considered to be German--that is, the areas where the French themselves had operated the schools in German. Strategically important Metz was the only notable exception to this rule. For example, the Department of Belfort, in southern Alsace, was not taken into Germany even though it was an integral part of Alsace. The Germans didn't want it because it was not German-speaking (although it previously had been German-speaking and still contained many Lutherans and German-surnamed people)." [Peaseley]

The majority French population never accepted the German annexation and continued to see themselves as French. This must have resulted in incidents at school, although HBC has no actual information confirming this. Presumably the teachers saw themselves as Germans and many if not most would have tried to instill German patriotism in the children. German authorities brought in Prussian instructors, not always te most competent instructors. This reportedly alienated many Alsatian students, which in may cases had the opposite affect iof making thm feel more French. School smocks must have been much less common in these provinces than the rest of France, if they were worn at all. HBC does not at this time know just how the children dressed in the Alsace Loraine schools. A HBC reader has mentioned a lovely little short story by Alphonse Daudet, entitled "La Derniere Classe" ("The Last Class"), it describes a French teacher telling his class that he was being replaced and this will be the last day that their class will be taught in the French language.

Language

A French reader reports that by about 1900 almost all the French-speaking population in Alsace were able to understand German, but generally refused to speak it at home and in the streets.

Sources

Ludwig, Emil. Bismarck: The Story of a Fighter (Little, Brown, and Company, 1927).

Peaseley, Brad. E-mail message, October 9, 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.