Otto von Bismarck
annexed Alsace and northern Lorraine to the new German Empire in 1871. France ceded more than 90% of Alsace and one-fourth of Lorraine, as stipulated in the treaty of Frankfurt.
Who Captured Alsace?
By the terms of the final treaty, signed on May 10, 1871, at Frankfurt am Main,
Germany
annexed the French provinces of Alsace (excluding Belfort) and Lorraine; the French were also ordered to pay an indemnity of five billion francs.
Which country annexed the Alsace-Lorraine region?
Alsace-Lorraine, a geopolitical amalgam consisting of the former French departments of Bas-Rhin, Haut-Rhin and Moselle, was annexed by the newly
-unified German Empire
following its victory over France in 1871.
Why did Germany annex Alsace-Lorraine?
Well, initially Germany mainly wanted Alsace-Lorraine
to act as a buffer zone in the event of any future wars with France
. The area contains the Vosges Mountains, which would be much more defensible than the Rhine River if the French ever attempted to invade.
What countries border Alsace-Lorraine?
This small mountain range is the border
between France and Germany
, and it is where you can find a number of villages and the picturesque city of Strasbourg. Welcome to the region of Alsace.
Is Alsace French or German?
Although
Alsace is part of France
, its borders have not always been clear. The region has been passed between French and German control several times since 1681, when Strasbourg was conquered by French forces. As a result, Alsatian culture is a unique mix of French and German influences.
Why is Alsace-Lorraine so important?
Germany annexed Alsace and a part of Lorraine in 1871 partly for strategic reasons, partly in order to cement, in true Prussian fashion, her own unity on what she believed to be the ruins of France : she
holds Alsace for its agricultural wealth
, for its growing industries, for its potash mines, and for other reasons in …
Does Germany still claim Alsace-Lorraine?
Alsace-Lorraine, German Elsass-Lothringen, area comprising the present French départements of Haut-Rhin, Bas-Rhin, and Moselle. This territory was retroceded to France in 1919 after World War I,
was ceded again to Germany in 1940 during
World War II, and was again retroceded to France in 1945. …
What is meant by Alsace?
Alsace. / (ælˈsæs, French alzas) / noun.
a region and former province of NE France
, between the Vosges mountains and the Rhine: famous for its wines.
Does the Maginot Line still exist?
The Maginot Line did not extend across the northern border with Belgium. …
The Maginot Line still exists
, but is not maintained and not used for military purposes anymore.
Was Alsace-Lorraine originally French or German?
Alsace-Lorraine is a historical region, now called Alsace-Moselle, located in France. It was created in 1871
by the German Empire
after seizing the region from the Second French Empire in the Franco-Prussian War and Treaty of Frankfurt.
What territories did Germany lose after ww1?
The Versailles Treaty forced Germany to give up territory to
Belgium, Czechoslovakia and Poland
, return Alsace and Lorraine to France and cede all of its overseas colonies in China, Pacific and Africa to the Allied nations.
What is Alsace famous for?
Alsace is famous for its
beer
(for example, Kronenbourg or Meteor), its sauerkraut (choucroute in French), and several other local specialities such as Alsace Flammekueche, a traditional dish that is not unlike a pizza without tomatoes, but covered with cheese, cream, mushrooms and local ham.
What language is spoken in Alsace Lorraine?
Elsasserditsch is the German dialect spoken in Alsace, while
Lothringer Platt (or Francique) is spoken
in the Moselle province of Lorraine, especially around the town Thionville. The written form of these dialects is High German.
When did Germany invade Alsace Lorraine?
In
May/June, 1940
, early in World War 2, Nazi Germany invaded western Europe, taking Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and much of France, including Alsace. The Germans annexed Alsace and occupied the region until the Allies liberated Strasbourg on Nov 23, 1944.
