The province of Alsace changed hands four times between 1871-1945, traded as a war prize between France and Germany. However, while the nationality of a region may be changed by a signature on paper by one head of state to another, nationalism is not merely a political transaction because nationalism describes the sentiments and allegiance of a group of people.. The region of Alsace-Lorraine surrounding the Franco-Prussian war in 1870, because it was so hotly contested by France and Germany, serves as an interesting topic for a study in nationalism. The annexation of Alsace-Lorraine by Germany in 1871 forced the people of the region to choose their nationality, and forced the states of France and Germany to strategize how to win the patriotism of those people. What emerged were senses of nationalism defined by language, culture, school, and work as much as they were shaped by the politics, geography, and annexation.

Maps and Geography