Cultural Identity of Alsace-Lorraine

603 Words3 Pages
Analyze the ways in which national and cultural i.d. in Alsace-Lorraine were perceived and promoted during the period from 1870-1919. The Alsace-Lorraine was a region that has been inhabited by both French and German people. Because of the switching in authority of this area between Germany and France, the people of the Alsace-Lorraine have a very unique culture that includes in part French and German characteristics. When the Alsace-Lorraine was ceded to Germany in 1871, the French culture was suppressed causing unease within the Alsatian people; yet once the Alsace-Lorraine became part of France yet again with the ending of WWI, the German traditions remained as well. To reinforce German dominance within all its territories, Bismarck shows how he plans to infuse the area with German culture as he states that it will, "...be a hotbed of disaffection for a long time to come" (doc. 1). This proves how Germany forsaw their own culture being violently imposed upon the region. region. This imposition of culture was done verbally, through laws forcing men to choose between their French allegiance or their homes (doc. 8). Some Germans believed these reforms would cure these “unhappy people” of their “ignorance of the New Germany” (doc. 4) - and thus make them happier, and many Alsatians, on threat of eviction from their homes, starting speaking German and adopting German customs. By 1879, over 75% of the population spoke German (doc. 6) This “wean[ing]…from the French” (doc. 3) was not greeted affably. After the Treaty of Frankfurt announced that Alsace-Lorraine was to become a part of Germany, Alsatians brought force a declaration to the French National Assembly stating that the people of Alsace-Lorraine “have constantly sacrificed themselves in the cause of national greatness” (doc. 2) and thus demanded to remain part of France. Three years after the German

More about Cultural Identity of Alsace-Lorraine

Open Document