German-Annexed Alsace and Imperial Germany: A Process of Colonisation?

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingsChapterpeer-review

Abstract

This chapter explores German-annexed Alsace after 1871 to probe the viability of the notion internal colonialism with respect to the relationship between Alsace and (Prusso-)Germany. After the Frankfurt Treaty that formally ended the Franco-Prussian war, Alsace formed part of the so-called Reichsland Alsace-Lorraine, a ‘state’ that ‘belonged’ to the German Reich and never gained full emancipation as one of Germany’s federal states. Alsatians were in their vast majority German-speaking; however, their culture contained many French elements, and, most importantly, they did not want to become Germans, a recalcitrance that was strengthened by the fact that they were denied a plebiscite on the question whether or not they consented to being annexed by Germany.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationCambridge Imperial and Post-Colonial Studies
PublisherPalgrave Macmillan
Pages92-108
Number of pages17
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014

Publication series

NameCambridge Imperial and Post-Colonial Studies
VolumePart F93
ISSN (Print)2635-1633
ISSN (Electronic)2635-1641

Keywords

  • European History
  • Federal Council
  • French Language
  • Internal Colonialism
  • National Identity

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'German-Annexed Alsace and Imperial Germany: A Process of Colonisation?'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this