Abstract
The regions of Alsace-Lorraine shaped the relationship between France and Germany ever since its integration in the German Empire in the wake of the Franco-Prussian war of 1871, and until its recovery by the Third Republic of France in 1918. During this period from 1871 to 1918, both sides argued in a passionate climate about the recurrent question: are Alsatians and Lorrains German or French? There was of course an economical interest of both countries to possess these regions as regards to the importance of iron and steel industry in Lorraine by instance. However, the heart of the "Alsace Lorraine question" is mostly symbolic. Indeed, Alsace and Lorraine were an important political symbol for societies and governments on both sides of the Rhine.
On the one hand, the integration of Alsace and Lorraine permitted to glorify and legitimate the newly created German Empire in a pangermanist perspective. On the other hand, the desire for the recovery of these regions was used by French Third Republic leaders to heighten French nationalism and patriotism after a great humiliating defeat and another change of political regime.
Originally Alsace-Lorraine was a part of France where the Alsatian dialect, grammatically close to German, was spoken. During the Franco-Prussian war, though, those two regions were invaded by Prussia. In the wake of the French defeat, the Frankfort Treaty was signed the 10th of May 1871 .The integration of Alsace and Lorraine was of great symbolic importance for the new German Empire founded the 18th of January 1871 in Versailles and an important shift in the balance of power in Europe.
