Alsace-Lorraine (Alsace-Lorraine)

Research Status: Moderate Last Updated: 2026-02-10 Diary Coverage: Political references throughout diary

Overview

Alsace-Lorraine (Elsass-Lothringen) was the territory annexed by the German Empire from France following France's defeat in the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871). The loss of these provinces was the defining national trauma of the early Third Republic, and references to Alsace-Lorraine in Marie Bashkirtseff's diary reflect the pervasive French sentiment of revanche (revenge) and national humiliation that colored political life throughout her years in France.

Historical Context

The Annexation

• 1871: By the Treaty of Frankfurt, France ceded Alsace and the northern part of Lorraine to the new German Empire
• Territory: Approximately 14,500 square km with 1.6 million inhabitants
• Cities lost: Strasbourg, Metz, Mulhouse, Colmar
• Cultural impact: French-speaking populations now under German rule
• The "lost provinces": Became a symbol of French national grief

Impact on French Society

The loss of Alsace-Lorraine profoundly affected the France Marie inhabited:

• Revanchism: The desire to recover the provinces drove French foreign policy
• National mourning: The statue of Strasbourg on the Place de la Concorde was draped in black
• Military buildup: France rebuilt its military with recovery of the provinces as a goal
• Political divisions: The loss fueled both nationalism and republicanism
• Cultural expression: Literature, art, and public discourse constantly referenced the lost territories

In Marie's World

For the political classes and fashionable society Marie observed:

• Alsace-Lorraine was a constant topic of political discussion
• Support for the "lost provinces" was a mark of patriotism
• The issue affected Franco-German relations and broader European diplomacy
• Marie, as a politically aware diarist, noted these discussions

Related Entries

• #Paris - Where the political debate was centered
• #Nice - Marie's primary residence during the early period