Centenary Commemorations

[Alan Tucker]

Hello Alan, so do you think that by 1914 the political and military authorites in France had largely given up on having Alsace-Lorraine returned in the sense of being a realistic achievable goal?

I remember reading somewhere that Rauol Villain,who assasinated Socialist Leader jean Juares, was a member of League of Young Friends of Alsace-Lorraine......were they more of a fringe organisation or even a bunch of cranks- albeit dangerous ones ? I tried reading about French politics immediately before the Great War some 3-4 years ago, and found it a very complicated subject indeed.

Regards

Michael Bully

Yes it was an aspiration which could only be redressed by a satisfactory outcome of a general European war in which Germany was defeated. It therefore probably had some bearing when the French stupidly hitched themselves to a Balkans inception scenario from 1913 when they agreed to back any Russian enagagement in a Serbia- Austria/Hungary conflict irrespective of the consequences. Likewise the Russians realised that they could achieve the opening of the Straits to their navy by the same outcome - a general European war and backing Serbia was a backdoor way to achieving this.

[MichaelBully]

I agree but then surely we would have to accept then that the recovery of Alsace-Lorriane was an objective of at least some of the indviduals who excercised political power in France -perhaps Poincare or Delcase- rather than just fringe groups?

However objectively I look at the France- Russia alliance, it only came about as there were political factions in both countries that were prepared to risk war with Germany to achieve their aims. I suppose it led to some interesting cultural exchanges such as Stravinsky being able to arrange a performance of 'The Rites of Spring ' in Paris in 1913 .

Regards

Michael Bully

Yes it was an aspiration which could only be redressed by a satisfactory outcome of a general European war in which Germany was defeated. It therefore probably had some bearing when the French stupidly hitched themselves to a Balkans inception scenario from 1913 when they agreed to back any Russian enagagement in a Serbia- Austria/Hungary conflict irrespective of the consequences. Likewise the Russians realised that they could achieve the opening of the Straits to their navy by the same outcome - a general European war and backing Serbia was a backdoor way to achieving this.

[healdav]

I agree but then surely we would have to accept then that the recovery of Alsace-Lorriane was an objective of at least some of the indviduals who excercised political power in France -perhaps Poincare or Delcase- rather than just fringe groups?

However objectively I look at the France- Russia alliance, it only came about as there were political factions in both countries that were prepared to risk war with Germany to achieve their aims. I suppose it led to some interesting cultural exchanges such as Stravinsky being able to arrange a performance of 'The Rites of Spring ' in Paris in 1913 .

Regards

Michael Bully

The recovery of Alsace-Lorraine was a key part of French life, let alone political aspirations. It was taught in school, the "stolen provinces" - actually a big chunk of Lorraine was stolen from Luxembourg by Louis XIV (but don't mentiion that).

The French Plan XVII was intended to recover these provinces right at the start of any war, and so on.

[MichaelBully]

Interesting, thanks ....I hadn't thought about looking at Plan XVII . Regards

The recovery of Alsace-Lorraine was a key part of French life, let alone political aspirations. It was taught in school, the "stolen provinces" - actually a big chunk of Lorraine was stolen from Luxembourg by Louis XIV (but don't mentiion that).

The French Plan XVII was intended to recover these provinces right at the start of any war, and so on.