Q: Analyze the ways in which national and cultural identity in Alsace-Lorraine was perceived and promoted during the period from 1870 to 1919.
Alsace-Lorraine was an extremely controversial strip of land during the Franco-Prussian War in 1871. The region was originally part of the Holy Roman Empire, but for a period of time when Louis XIV king of France (r.1643-1715), it was French territory. After the Treaty of Frankfurt in 1871, Alsace-Lorraine was officially ceded back to the Holy Roman Empire, but in 1919, it was restored to French possession. During its return to the Holy Roman Empire from 1871-1919, delegates from Alsace-Lorraine publically declared their loyalty to France, but German publications promoted Alsace-Lorraine to be nationally obligated to and culturally accepting of Germany.
Alsatian delegates strongly promoted their nationality for France. In a Declaration to the French National Assembly in 1871, Alsatian Delegates claimed that the Alsatian population, “solemnly claim their sacred and inalienable rights to the National Assembly of France… Alsace and Lorraine do not consent to separation [from France]”. Another delegate, Edouard Teutsch, declared Alsace and Lorrain’s nationality to France and asked the German Reichstag ”our hearts are irresistibly attracted to our French fatherland… Gentlemen, what are your prospects for the future?” Teutsch attempted to come from a softer point of view to convince the German government to free them, asking that if they both knew that the relationship wouldn’t work out or be successful, why was it still going on. Jacques Preiss, another Alsation, made a speech to the Reichstag as well points out that, “Germanization, has not taken a single step forward… it is terror that governs and poisons our political life… the government does not understand the people and the people do not understand the government”. Preiss also attempts to make a logical argument with the government in order to have them agree to separate cede Alsace and Lorraine to France. Many other delegates and citizens claimed to find Germany to be forceful and violent in their push for Alsace-Lorraine to be loyal to Germany, and promoted their French Nationalism.
In Germany, publications and leaders’ statements caused the perception of Alsace-Lorraine’s nationality to be towards Germany. In an 1879 census report, which most likely was altered to enhance the reputation of Germany’s success with Alsace-Lorraine, claims that 77.39 percent of Alsace-Lorraine spoke German, while only 12.12 percent of Alsace-Lorraine spoke French. Many political and literary figures also claimed that Germany knows what’s best for Alsace-Lorraine, even when France or Alsace-Lorraine doesn’t know it themselves. In a German proclamation after the Treaty of Frankfurt, the government claimed that, “Alsace and German Lorraine were restored to the newly founded German Empire to which they belong… it becomes Germany’s national duty to wean these people from the French.” When Alsatians are putting out complaints of German violence, Germany’s way of justifying their violence was to state that it is their duty, and restate that Alsace-Lorraine always belonged to them. While Germany promoted outside Germany that Alsace-Lorraine was successfully adopting German nationalism, within Germany, leaders were aware that Alsace-Lorraine was still culturally very French, and were making plans to change it. For example, Heinrich Class, president of the Pans-German League, spoke of how German culture needed to be strictly enforced on Alsatians, and that they needed to be forced out of Germany if they wouldn’t comply. They planned to rule Alsace-Lorraine with a dictatorship and shut out any source of outside culture. No matter how hard they tried, it wasn’t getting through to the Alsatians. In a newspaper article in Berlin, towards the end of German rule over Alsace-Lorraine, a reporter speaks of how, despite instruction, German women were ignoring German influence.
From 1871-1919, Alsatians made it very clear that they were sticking to their French nationalism, despite Germany’s attempts and promotion to force them into German nationalism.
Alsatian delegates strongly promoted their nationality for France. In a Declaration to the French National Assembly in 1871, Alsatian Delegates claimed that the Alsatian population, “solemnly claim their sacred and inalienable rights to the National Assembly of France… Alsace and Lorraine do not consent to separation [from France]”. Another delegate, Edouard Teutsch, declared Alsace and Lorrain’s nationality to France and asked the German Reichstag ”our hearts are irresistibly attracted to our French fatherland… Gentlemen, what are your prospects for the future?” Teutsch attempted to come from a softer point of view to convince the German government to free them, asking that if they both knew that the relationship wouldn’t work out or be successful, why was it still going on. Jacques Preiss, another Alsation, made a speech to the Reichstag as well points out that, “Germanization, has not taken a single step forward… it is terror that governs and poisons our political life… the government does not understand the people and the people do not understand the government”. Preiss also attempts to make a logical argument with the government in order to have them agree to separate cede Alsace and Lorraine to France. Many other delegates and citizens claimed to find Germany to be forceful and violent in their push for Alsace-Lorraine to be loyal to Germany, and promoted their French Nationalism.
In Germany, publications and leaders’ statements caused the perception of Alsace-Lorraine’s nationality to be towards Germany. In an 1879 census report, which most likely was altered to enhance the reputation of Germany’s success with Alsace-Lorraine, claims that 77.39 percent of Alsace-Lorraine spoke German, while only 12.12 percent of Alsace-Lorraine spoke French. Many political and literary figures also claimed that Germany knows what’s best for Alsace-Lorraine, even when France or Alsace-Lorraine doesn’t know it themselves. In a German proclamation after the Treaty of Frankfurt, the government claimed that, “Alsace and German Lorraine were restored to the newly founded German Empire to which they belong… it becomes Germany’s national duty to wean these people from the French.” When Alsatians are putting out complaints of German violence, Germany’s way of justifying their violence was to state that it is their duty, and restate that Alsace-Lorraine always belonged to them. While Germany promoted outside Germany that Alsace-Lorraine was successfully adopting German nationalism, within Germany, leaders were aware that Alsace-Lorraine was still culturally very French, and were making plans to change it. For example, Heinrich Class, president of the Pans-German League, spoke of how German culture needed to be strictly enforced on Alsatians, and that they needed to be forced out of Germany if they wouldn’t comply. They planned to rule Alsace-Lorraine with a dictatorship and shut out any source of outside culture. No matter how hard they tried, it wasn’t getting through to the Alsatians. In a newspaper article in Berlin, towards the end of German rule over Alsace-Lorraine, a reporter speaks of how, despite instruction, German women were ignoring German influence.
From 1871-1919, Alsatians made it very clear that they were sticking to their French nationalism, despite Germany’s attempts and promotion to force them into German nationalism.