Alsace Reclaimed. French Joys, Hopes, and Problems on the Eve of the Paris Peace Conference (1919)

Abstract

When in 1918 Alsace and Lorraine were returned to France, it was accompanied by a great joy and not only an official optimism, which can be found in the press coverage of that time. Nevertheless, the reintegration of the recovered provinces was associated with a number of problems, the nature and scale of which were not expected by the French side. Already at the end of 1918 and the beginning of 1919 the most important issues emerged; these were primarily all the issues related to respecting, or disrespecting, by the French state all the local cultural and language differences (e.g. in schools and administration), the local laws, recognizing the role of religion, e.g. not introducing the Act from 9 December 1905, respecting the role of the Alsatian dialect, and taking into account the fact that the vast majority of the Alsatians could not speak French. During preparations for the Paris conference, the most important issue was to confirm the incorporation of the reclaimed provinces into France without a referendum, the conditions and discussions regarding their nationality in the name of the nations’ self-determination. The diplomatic and military steps (taking over the previously lost provinces by the French troops) was accompanied by the creation of a fait accompli in the newly seized territories and the intensive propaganda campaign which involved e.g., creating in the press an image of Alsace that was French, joyful and absolutely unwavering it terms of its nationality.