Це відео не доступне.
Перепрошуємо.
Alsace-Lorraine during World War II (1940 - 1945) - German-Occupied Alsace in WW2
Вставка
- Опубліковано 21 гру 2021
- What about Alsace-Lorraine in World War II? Alsace-Lorraine (Elsaß-Lothringen / Alsace-Moselle) was re-annexed by the German Reich after the successful German invasion of France. Robert Heinrich Wagner became the Gauleiter of Baden-Alsace. Since the region was annexed by Germany, its inhabitants became German citizens and therefore its man could be drafted in the German Army. These men are referred to as Malgré-nous (French: "against our will"). A large part of the area was liberated in 1944. Operation Nordwind was a German counterattack in the Alsace region. When that offensive failed the Allied plan for reducing the Colmar Pocket was named Operation Cheerful. Early 1945 most of Alsace was liberated by the Allied forces.
History Hustle presents: Alsace-Lorraine during World War II (1940 - 1945) - German-Occupied Alsace in WW2.
SUPPORT ME ON PATREON ► / historyhustler
SUPPORT ME ON PAYPAL ► www.paypal.com...
SUBSCRIBE ► / @historyhustle
INSTAGRAM ► / historyhustle
FACEBOOK ► / historyhustler
TWITTER ► / hustlehistory
SOURCES
- Nations and Nationalism. A Global Historical Overview [4 volumes] (Guntram H. Herb, David H. Kaplan) 1501.
- museeprotestan... (14-10-2021).
- museeprotestan... (14-10-2021).
IMAGES
Images from commons.wikimedia.org.
VIDEO
Video material from:
• Battle of the Bulge 19...
Battle of the Bulge 1944/1945 (Combat Footage)
"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."
MUSIC
"Dark Times" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons...
"Crossing the Chasm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons...
SOUNDS
Freesound.org.
Want to ask me a question? Send me an email at: historyhustle@gmail.com
Life in German-Annexed Alsace-Lorraine (1871 - 1918):
ua-cam.com/video/sq3rlZTpBjc/v-deo.html
The Alsace-Lorraine Soviet Republic (1918):
ua-cam.com/video/18-MTXdwz4c/v-deo.html
When I was a student living in Bielefeld, Germany in about 1984, I met a family who presented themselves as German refugees or Fluechlinge. This was not so odd as there were many refugees in Bielefeld who had come from what is now Poland, namely Silesia. However these people explained that they were from Alsace. Apparently the grandfather had been a minister of the free Lutheran church in Alsace and during the war he had prayed for Hitler as the head of state (regardless how he might have looked upon him or agreed or disagreed with any of his policies). This was of course held against him by the French authorities when they once again assumed power in 1945 and therefore the family was forced to leave or was pushed out of Alsace and had to take refuge in Bielefeld. A few years later I met a cousin of the former pastor's daughter (the pastor had died in Germany in the mean-time) and he said that his father was less pro-German than his uncle and therefore was not a target for the de Gaulists. He in turn did himself become a pastor in the same church which had turned for the most part very French. Hardly any services were in the German languages whereas during the German period most if not all services were in German. I only bring up the story to illustrate how war can effect the same family differently and how each member of the family had a different fate.
Flüchtlinge. I lived near Bielefeld in 1982, but my German has lasted longer than yours. 🤣🤣🤣
Super interesting!
Migrants tend to go to the same place. I know that loads od people from Gdansk/Danzig made their home in Wuppertal. Wonder I German-minded Alsatians also hat hot spots for their relocation.
@@rasmusronsholdt4511 Please join the 21st century while there's room.
@@andrewrobinson2565 Thanks for your reply.
I really liked your comment. I find is the migration patterns after WW2 interesting. They are part of what what makes modern Europe.
Some ten years ago i visited Gdansk. I met several German tourists, who told me that they now lived in the Ruhr district, but their families originally came for Gdansk.
These people live in the 21th century. But Their lives has been shaped affected by the 20th century.
@@rasmusronsholdt4511 Good answer +1. (Edit: 🇪🇺) Lots of map changes in that area in the past 200 years.
Being of Alsace-Lorraine heritage, I fully understand why my ancestors, left for America. So sad, so tragic. Thank you for bringing the History of my family's homeland to UA-cam.
Thanks for sharing this.
My family came to America from that area but in the early part of the 1900's (my great grandfather). They spoke French and settled in western New York.
@@andrewt.2850 My great was born at the same time, he stayed, have you ever come back since? As far as I am concerned I was twice in your beautiful country, curious life finally, same origin and still different today, wishes you the best for the future
@@SD-cs1ti Thanks for your message. Sadly I have not been to the area but it's definitely on my bucket list!
@@andrewt.2850 My great grand father Leo Fausnacht did the same, and settled in Allegheny NY.
I know a couple of people from the area. One guy has a German surname and told me he has relatives in Germany, but he doesn’t speak German. Great video!
Thanks for replying!
One of my favorite historic places , not just recent events but how much it is imbedded in european history , with out many people knowing how important the region is .
Was a very nice place to visit.
@@HistoryHustle I love the way you set up your channel iam a great fan if indy Nidels ww1 and ww2 series . and your channel , and both actualy complement each other perfectly .
I would love to see some sort of cooperation in the future.
Thank you for this video, my fathers side is from Colmar, Alsace and while my grandfather was a veteran of the pacific theatre, his cousin was conscripted in the malgre-nous and was unfortunately one of those 50,000 that didn’t return home. I appreciate you shining light on this often taboo topic that deserves more coverage! Greetings from Chicago ✌️
Thanks, Matt!
Colmar 🥰
Alsace-Moselle (Elsass-Lothringen) was at the beginning a german territory before 1648. (Holy Roman Empire)
Some people argue that the region was German by origin and there is some truth in that. Look at the Alsatian language, or perhaps the architecture. Some people refer to the Holy Roman Empire. The Holy Roman Empire (by some seen as the first "German state", which it wasn't) was a loose state association and only an empire in name. Furthermore, it wasn't 'the German nation' since that one came around in 1871. Thirdly, the HRE also had Switzerland and Northern Italy. Should these parts also become part of Germany? It doesn't make sense.
So what? It is French.
@@HistoryHustle The battle on wheter it is alte Adigio or lower Tyrol. You still see slogans in the region in Italy that they are Austrians... I saw it when driving there...
@@HistoryHustle Since the late 15th century the Holy Roman Empire was even called the Holy Roman Empire of German Nation
@@patriciabrenner9216 Oh these have to be evil Nazis! German-speaking people who were forced to be citizens of another country and still identify as German or Austrian.
If you watch The Sorrow and the Pity about German occupation in WWII, there is an interview with some civilians from Alsace, in German with subtitles. The part where the civilians say they considered themselves German and did not want to be French was not translated.
Not surprisingly , if they were occupied 1871 to 1918 and again for over 4 years 1940- 1945 and subjected to ruthless Prussian militarism and then Hilterite poison.
@@willhovell9019 also not surprising because they were on the border. I wouldnt be surprised if many were ethnically german.
@@dezbiggs6363 Well, that's the point. They are ethnically German and speak a German dialect, that's why Germany allways wanted to annex them.
@@willhovell9019 they were French since Louis XIV.
@@patriciabrenner9216 Before the French snnexion they were German since the arrival of the Franks in the 5th century. In the year 1900 only 10% of the local population spoke even French.
Amazing seeing the region amidst the turmoil of two global conflicts and how it has deeply impacted it.
Thank you for this great video!
@@GreatPolishWingedHussars Never forget that Poles annexed and expelled 1/4 of the German population and area. Still they claim to be the victim 😂
Thanks for your reply, Robert!
Thank you so much for bringing this up! Again one of those topics not many people know about. I learned some New things from this video although I was familiar with the subject. Keep up the good work!
Great to read your reply again, Mathias, thanks!
My father aged just 19, his men from the 232nd, also the 222nd and 242nd Infantry Regiments, U S Army 42nd Rainbow Division fought their way through all the areas you've spoken of, including crossing the Rhine, and the Battle of the Bulge, and Strasbourg during WW2... Thank you for both researching and sharing these facts.
Thanks for your reply.
As always great video. This channel is amazing because it tackles and explains some lesser known historical events.
Many thanks!
Thank you so much for this documentary. I am an American living in Bas Rhin, Alsace and for years have searched for information
about this period in Alsacian history.
Thanks for your reply.
My wife was born in Strasburg in 1949, her mom an as 13 at the start of the war and was an interpreter, for the Germans. She could speak German and French. After the war she married a Belgian Chelloist and moved to Canada then to Portland Oregon. She had lots of story about the war. She would sing a song My Alsace.
Thanks for sharing this.
All alsatians are bilingual. The allies used them during WWII.
Loving these videos!
#1👍
My father's family came from Alsace-Lorraine. Our family name is apparently of German origin. However, my great-grandmother absolutely insisted that we were damn well French.
Thanks for your reply.
France and Germany are close but so different they definitely have different ethnic origins I fell apart Franco and then German people it’s easy to tell
@@AngelSanchez-xc5ue Not forgetting that there are different ethnic origins inside France as well. The same for Germany.
@@phlm9038 Yeah nowadays in France mostly Africans...
@@jonasrmb01 No, it's not.
Your students are fortunate to have you as their history teacher. Merry Christmas!
🎅👍
Fantastic video professor Stefan! I personally love videos on this topic! You never hear about life in occupied Europe during wars in general and it has always been something I’ve wondered about with ww2 in particular. I am sure you have heard a few fascinating stories from friends and relatives who lives during the Nazi occupation in your hometown in the Netherlands or in the country in general! I hope you make a video on that topic someday as well! Also have a great holiday Professor and Merry Xmas!!!!
Many thanks for your reply. Happy Holidays!
@@GreatPolishWingedHussars I’m sorry but that doesn’t make any sense and is wrong on so many levels. all of the occupied territories were occupied by the German army which took orders directly from Berlin which was the Nazi regime. That Definately included France. Even Vichy France was ruled by a nazi puppet government. You are trying to split hairs and pick apart my comment In order to make yourself sound smart and you made absolutely no sense lol The fact people like you have that kind of time to read thru comments and argue with everyone is so sad and pathetic man. Happy holidays the war is over anyways.
@@GreatPolishWingedHussars I love it how we native Europeans eagerly hate each other and kill each other by millions and yet we let people from outside Europe taking us over with almost no resistance.
@@GreatPolishWingedHussars it’s super easy to divide us. The European natives don’t hate each other but they are easily fooled by propaganda. Hence prime exampleww1 and 2 we started to kill each other for nonsense. I appreciate Poland’s current effort though. along with Hungary and Czechia you have the only government and people standing up for the survival of the European people and culture.
Just found this guy on UTube Studied WW2 for GCE at school in UK Never got info like this BRILLIANT
I love these detailed videos, keep up the good work!
Cheers!
Very interesting to hear the part about the German punishment for Alsacian conscripts running off to Switzerland. My mother is from Alsace and lived in the town of Linsdorf which was located very close to the Swiss border. She said a group of young men were called up to serve in the Wehrmacht. Some days prior to reporting for their induction they decided one stormy night to sneak across the border into Switzerland. They all managed to escape but their families paid the price for their freedom. They were all arrested and relocated to East Prussia as punishment and had to work as farmers. Only one family was spared this fate because they already had a son who was serving in the German Army on the Eastern Front. The irony of this story is the son who was fighting on the Eastern Front made it through the war and returned back home safe and sound to his family, while the other son who escaped to Switzerland ended up contracting pneumonia and died. Eventually after the war ended the families who were sent to East Prussia returned back home and shared stories of when the Russian soldiers came through their area and were raping some of the women.
Thanks for sharing this.
Bonjour,
Dans le sud de l'Alsace, un exemple bien connu est celui des jeunes de Ballersdorf qui eux aussi avaient tenté de fuir en Suisse mais avaient été pris.
Un a été abattu sur place, les autres ont été arrêtés par les SS le lendemain et fusillés au Struthof, les familles déportées en Allemagne.
5:20 I have visited the village of Oradour-Sur-Glane a few years ago, one of the most impressive places I have ever visited. Perhaps an interesting subject for a video
Yes. For sure one day!
Would you say it is more German then France or the other way round ?
I visited it last year, after wanting to for many years (but I live in East Asia) and was indeed quite impressed by it.
Btw Frenchy: Oradour is 100% French. It's about 30 kms from Limoges.
finally the video is here. thanks sir for this episode of alsace lorraine
You're welcome!
crossing the river in the bus from very French Strasbourg to very German Kehl is an interesting culture shift
I can understand.
Thank you for this video. My ancestors left Alsace after the Prussian-French war, going to Argentina, but some of them remained in Bas-Rhin.
Thanks for your reply, Daniel.
How interesting to see how Alsace - Lorraine's fate changed due to the Franco - Prussian War, WWI, and WWII (with a short Soviet republic in between). Very interesting is also to know that inhabitants of this region were drafted by the Wehrmacht. Good work! Thank you and Cheers from Peru!
Cheers and many thanks for your support!
It should be clarified that Alsace-Lorraine was known to the Romans as "Upper Germany" (Germania Superior). The decline of Rome brought the Germanic Alemanni tribe, who were then conquered by the Franks. In 843 Charlemagne's Frankish empire was divided into 3 parts, with Alsace-Lorraine in the German part. After the 15th century the region was sold to the French with the understanding that German customs & culture would be maintained. The area participated in the French Revolution, after which it became a solid French holding.
So it's not far-fetched that the Germans considered Alsace-Lorraine to be a German territory "stolen by the French". About 80% of the populace spoke German. They were closely tied to Switzerland, Bavaria and the Rhine river trade. During the past 2 centuries, each time the region passed between French & German rule, an attempt was made to mold the population to match. And that didn't stop after WW2.
Thanks for sharing your insights.
It was my understanding that the French annexed the area during the reign of Louis XIV when the ruling family died out. However, the Hohenzollern family had a reciprocal treaty of 'brotherhood' in which if either family were to die out the other would inherit.
Not sure if that's from Carlyle's or Robert Asprey's biography of Frederick the Great.
My great grandfather was Injured here Dec 5th 1944, I have a few of his metals along with some German soldiers items he had supposedly cut off a downed german pilot as well as pieces of his sherman tank that were removed from his body. I desperately wish I could find the german soldiers family and maybe more about my great grandfather's unit. Unfortunately most of his unit has more than likely passed on by now. Thank you for sharing this
Thanks for your reply.
Thanks! Very informative and interesting.
Thanks, MN!
@@HistoryHustle How about life in Oslo during the occupation.
This map at 2:15 is excellent. I developed a passion for this subject in 1973 watching a television show at home called "World War II G.I. Diary" at the age of my first few years of elementary school in California (that is primary school to Europeans).
I had graduated college as an engineer before I learned about Vichy France (also known by at least two other names in French and English).
It seems to me that the Adolf Hitler convinced Petain (fix spelling) to surrender sooner than he would have (officially 24 June 1940 as I recall)
by agreeing to lay off the south eastern part of France (Vichy France, colored in blue on the map).
Petain set up a new capital in mid July 1940 in the city of Vichy somewhere in the middle of the blue part of the map. So I would say the entire map shown is a map of the partitioned former France in late July 1940.
My point is that a young person in the U.S.A. could learn more in 3 minutes watching this video than I learned in perhaps 40 years -- until I read a well researched Time - Life book with a black and white map explaining what I just wrote. Today is the first day I got a look at a map that shows the part that was annexed by Mussolini's fascist Italy (the part colored yellow).
In my other comment about an hour before this one I vaguely referred to "at least two other names" for Vichy France:
1. French State
2. État Français
I said it was colored in blue. I should have said purple-blue (purplish blue).
Of course, Hitler did not keep this agreement with his former enemy (Marshal Philippe Pétain) for more than two and a half years. When the armed forces of Germany and Italy were ready (case Anton), they took control of the purplish blue part of the map as well in November 1942, without firing a shot -- making Pétain and Pierre Laval more of Hitler's puppet leadership duo than in the second half of 1940.
This region was not liberated until an Allied liberation force [including thousands of French men (refugees called the Free French Army), and men from French colonies)] and French men and French women from the French resistance liberated it in late August 1944. The landing craft and airplanes for Operation Dragoon were provided by the U.S.A., the U.K., and the British Commonwealth.
@@ieatoutoften872 The reason Germany took control of the purplish blue is because the USA invaded Algeria which at the time was an integrated part of France and as such part of that purplish blue area. The French army (of the French state) in Algeria betrayed Petain and cooperated whith the allies. Hitler saw that as a wickness from Petain's government and invaded the continental purplish blue zone by fear that they change side.
As you said, the Germans haven't fired a shot, but the French Navy sinked all their ships to avoid them being taken and used by the Germans.
@@GreatPolishWingedHussars When did I ever say that Americans haven't fought the French troops??
I said that they changed side. Petain sent his military commander Darlan to Algeria, but that guy has been persuaded to change side and joined the allies. The fight ceased at that moment and that guy defection led to Hitler not trusting the French military and Petain longer.
@@GreatPolishWingedHussars Don't make your own perception a fact. I was explaining the reason why Hitler invaded the southern part of France. He saw that trusting the Petain government was unsecure. My post wasn't commenting about how operation Torch has been conducted.
Beside, by your comments about America and Europe immigrants, you show clearly your admiration for the Vichy France. I won't follow you in that disgusting far right path.
Don't get your militant attitude @Polish Hus
My maternal grandfather's family was from Alsace -Lorraine. My great grandfather left Alsace Lorraine for America in 1880 . He said he did not want his sons to fight for The Kaiser
Thanks for your reply.
Another nugget of forgot history, THANK YOU For sharing you knowledge 💪 Cheers 🍻
👍👍👍
I like these types of videos mate. Keep them up! (Merry Christmas by the way)
🎅👍
Great content! Thank you! AL is so fascinating. I also love to see you leaving your basement. ;-)
North Schleswig never saw any fighting and was never annexed. Nonetheless I'd love to hear your take on that area. I know that the German minority in that area effectively were drafted. The post WW2 history of the area is also super interesting and controversial.
Please visit on you next trip.
Hi Rasmus, thanks for your reply. I will one day travel there. Also to cover the war between Denmark and Prussia. Can't tell when yet.
This one region being annexed by Germany in the Franco-Prussian war basically made ww1 inevitable and the outcome of that led to ww2 which saw the beginning of two superpowers in a massive arms race.
I am not sure the French annexation in earlier centuries and enforced assimilation was appropriate but I am glad that all sides now seem to have moved on..
@@GreatPolishWingedHussars Well the only non aggressors really in ww1 was Belgium, Italy, and to an extent the UK. France wasn't a main aggressor I'm just saying that the annexation led to why France declared war on Germany in ww1. There are thousands of reasons why ww1 began, you clearly know quite a bit about ww1 but you have to factor in that Alsace-Lorraine was a main reason why the French joined the war and why the western front began.
@@GreatPolishWingedHussarsThe French keeping the statute representing Alsac Lorraine under a cloth in Paris may not mean acceptance of its loss? 🤔 I agree that the German government pursued a foreign pool in the years leading up to 1914 that was aggressive but it was not all one sided.
@@GreatPolishWingedHussars No no no. France declared war on Germany because they declared war on Russia. To attack France, the Germans invaded Belgium to flank the French attack. Now, Britain had guaranteed Belgium independence since Belgium was created to keep a buffer between France and Germany; so Britain declared war on Germany. Seriously just watch a video or read a wikipedia article on it.
@@GreatPolishWingedHussars Well Germany declared war but only because France was going to anyway. Germany knew that It would take a while for Russia to prepare for war so they decided to look at the other bordering country which may oppose them. But I'm 100% right about the fact that Belgium was guaranteed independence and neutrality by the United Kingdom and the Germans started to commit atrocities in Belgium the UK declared war.
One man's annexation is another man's reclamation!
Yes.
Germany: Fight over Alsace-Lorraine again?
France: Yes.
Yeah.
Good video about what was basically the Franco-German football being kicked back and forth. I would imagine there were some people that must have lived through it going back and forth from the Franco-Prussian War to WWII. It must have been a strange experience for them. Anyway a doorbell ding-dong to you and take care.
If Germany had been smart, they would have made Alsace an independent country in the 1870s.
Hindsight I guess.
The first kick came from Louis XIV who seized Alsace from the holy Empire.
Interestingly, My grandad was from that location and fled to Bogota, Colombia after WW1 where he met my grandmother...!
Thanks for sharing this.
Elsass und Lothringen waren Jahrhunderte lang deutschsprachige Gebiete. Straßburg war eines der Zentren der deutschen Kultur überhaupt.
Frankreich hat sich das Gebiet nach dem 2. WK angeeignet und hat bis heute die deutsche Sprache und die ursprüngliche Kultur komplett getilgt. Wenn noch vor 20-30 Jahren viele Elsässer noch Deutsch sprachen und hier im Grenzgebiet bei Firmen wie Daimler oder Siemens arbeiten konnten, so ist es heute kaum noch so. Die jungen Elsässer sprechen nur Französisch.
Some people argue that the region was German by origin and there is some truth in that. Look at the Alsatian language, or perhaps the architecture. Some people refer to the Holy Roman Empire. The Holy Roman Empire (by some seen as the first "German state", which it wasn't) was a loose state association and only an empire in name. Furthermore, it wasn't 'the German nation' since that one came around in 1871. Thirdly, the HRE also had Switzerland and Northern Italy. Should these parts also become part of Germany? It doesn't make sense.
Others refer to how the French King in the 17th century seized the region. But from who? Because a German nation didn't exist. People argue from a German nationalistic point of view. That's an anachronism: nationalism as such came around in the 19th century. And that nation - the German Empire - for sure wasn't one cohesive country. Even in WW1 soldiers from different states resented one another. The troubles in the Imperial Territory of Alsace also occurred elsewhere in the empire. I call it Germany-annexed because the Germans annexed the region from France. People make a fuss about words, but what words should be appropriate? Sometimes I doubt people actually watch the video and just write an angry comment on one word in the title. I find that very short-sighted.
And sure: the region was subjected to Francofication. Then I take a pragmatic stance. So what should we do? Give it back to Germany. That would cause more problems than it would solve.
I believe my video was objective enough. Could it be longer or provided with more details - yes. Share the details in the comments I'd say.
Way to find an obscure topic worth exploring!
Thanks for watching!
My father in law was from Alsace-Lorraine, he had a german name, would speak the local german dialect (elsässisch) and his parents could not speak of word of French. So he had to be taught that language in school in the thirties before the war. He always spoke French with a strong germanic accent. All the same, he regarded himself as a true Frenchman. I guess it is difficult to understand for outsiders. Even French people from other parts of France do not know the sad story of that region very well.
Thanks for sharing.
Great video!
Thanks 👍
While it can be seen as splitting hairs, but technically, Germany never formally annexed Alsace-Lorraine during World War II (unlike territories in occupied Poland, such as Wartheland and Danzig-West Prussia). After the armistice in 1940, the German government intended to keep this issue on the bargaining table for a final settlement in a peace treaty after the war.
For all practical purposes, though, the territory was incorporated in the Reich and the French government (i. e. the government of the part of France that remained unoccupied from 1940 until 1942) protested against the measures.
Thanks for sharing your insights.
I also hope you do another video on what life was like in Vichy France In comparison to the German occupied zone!
One day yes.
Pity you did not mention that after The war Saarbruken next to Alsace/Lorraine in Germany was occupied and part of France till 1955 when a referendum allowed the. Area to go back to Germany so my wife was legally born in France but is German. History is very interesting!
First: this video isn't about the Saarland.
Second: in two weeks I will talk about the Saarland under French occupation.
@@HistoryHustle ok, just mention. Looking fwd. To your next video.
Saarland was occupied by France but was a protectorate with its own coins (Saarland franken) and administration. It was not part of France.
@@BangFarang1 but a referundum was conducted. In 1955 asking if they wanted to go back to Germany or become part of France. My wife came. From there!
@@jejewa2763 The referendum of 1955 was about independence of Saarland. It was rejected by 67%. Then West-Germany and France made a treaty to unite Saarland to West-Germany. The treaty was ratified by the Saarland diet. The fact Saarland had a diet, a government and a president is the proof that it was not a part of France.
The audio sound is a bit off. Did you do something different? Thank you for the tho! Interesting area.
Yeah, later it gets better!
The reason the criminals of Oradour were pardoned was that de Gaulle didn't want a reason for Alsace to prefer to be German. The pardon was ''in the name of national reconciliation''! They called these criminals the malgré nous (in spite of themselves). But as the Limousin people said Limousin, in the middle of France couldn't secede.
After these criminals were pardoned, Oradour returned all the medals they had received and forbade the visit of any French official until I believe Chirac. Until today the Limousin hasn't forgiven Alsace.
I must say I don't believe a word of the malgré-eux.
Bullshit. It's not because 15 people did something that a région IS mad about another. No one talks about that in Limousin or Alsace in 2021.
@@chrisa3661 Then you really do not know Limousin. They still talk about it and are still unhappy. As to Alsace? This is where you have the most neo Nazis in France today.
@@patriciabrenner9216 there are neo nazis everywhere if you search them and in every countries.The most efficient way to find them is to watch football matches. Not a single one in Strasbourg. So you seems to be a hater of Alsace , even if your name sounds alsatian. And i know Limousin , my family is from both regions and never had problem with Alsace. Dumbasses generalize isolated acts to a region, intelligent people don't do that.
@@chrisa3661 Hum you do not seem to know anything about France. Neo Nazis in France are abundanst in Alsace Lorraine, much more than in other places.
And no, you don't see them at football matches. And maybe your family doesn't, most Limousin people do.
And no I am not from Alsace. And I am a Jew.
@@patriciabrenner9216 im literally French from Alsace and Limousin and the husband of my cousin is a historian specialized in this périod, i spent multiple hours talking about WW2 with him and documented myself too. So could you just please just shut up now ? Btw being a jew doesnt mean you can't be alsatian, there's a lot of them in Alsace. Where you from ? Whats your "knowledge"?
Early Merry christmas and new year. Hopefully you talk about dark history with swag forever 😳👌
Happy Holidays!
I'm aslatian, the massacre of Oradour sur Glane stay a big trauma for the region, it has led a hatred from some french poeple against Alsace until now. It was really a minority a large majority were against germans.
Sad times.
Hope your enjoying your time in the region! Happy holidays.
Happy holidays!
Great video. Thanks BZ
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays
🎅👍
My French teacher back in the 1970s had grown up in Lorraine and been a child during the war. She told us abbout not being allowed to speak French at school and all of the lessons were in German.
She alluded a couple of times about the oppression and round ups, but we were fairly yound around 13 and it obviously wasn't part of the course so she didn't go into detail
PS she really didn't like Germans!
Are you from Michigan?
@@curtgottler9961 no I'm in the UK
Thanks for sharing Mark.
When I was in Alsace in the 1970s, and not being able to speak French but able to speak German, I found many French there spoke German...perhaps not so uncommon in many border areas.
I visited places as far inland as Metz, Nancy and Dijon and often found myself being offered a German menu or even addressed in German by waiters and shopkeepers who heard me speak Dutch to my husband. I was surprised to find so many Frenchmen able to speak fluent German but not very, as German tourists invade the places (no pun intended, today's Germans are lovable) every weekend.
Thanks for sharing.
The Germanic presence in Alsace goes back to the time of the German Chieftain Ariovistus who crossed the Rhine river in 71 BCE and settled 120,000 Germans on the Plains of Alsace. When Caesar arrived in the region in 58 BCE these Germanic tribes were left in peace. The German claim to the area is therefore very strong. The French presence occurred after the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 under Louis XIV and it was done by stealth and theft (piecemeal) for the next 30 odd years. The imperial city of Strassburg was bombarded by the French and surrendered in 1681.
Why add an "E" after "BC"?
@@TorMax9 CE= Common Era, BCE = Before the Common Era.
CE is synonymous with AD and BCE with BC, but aggressively promoted by religious zealots (mostly hindus and muslims) who are OK with using the christian era as long as all references to christ are wiped out. The rest of Asia and Africa don't give a shit and just use BC and AD when they speak English.
The region is rich in history.
The Franks (French) were also 'German'. Using ancient history to justify modern nationalism usually leads to chaos and war.
Very good! I thought Sepp Buerkel was gauleiter of Westmark? After his demise, Willi Stoehr became gauleiter but Alsace Lorraine was already in allied hands.
In that case I stand corrected. Thanks!
Alsace-Lorraine was part of
Germany since 929 there
We're huge festivals held during the 1920s to celebrate
It .
I think Charles the simple
Was the monarch don't lol
Was defeated or murdered
In 929 by Henry.
Both the Weimar Republic and Nazi made alot of this .
Period of history.
I will have to look up more in my old history notes
But to say it is French is to
Say Belgium is one country
Never mind your own native
Netherlands.
Good topic
Germany haha not at all. Alsace was closer to Switzerland than Germany. More closer to Austria than German because of the catholic religion. After 1870, most of the alsacian left alsace for France or another lands 1/3 of the population. Alsatians were bilingual especially in the towns (Metz for example). They spoke french and alsatian language in Alsace, Frankish in Moselle, not the German. To replace the starters, it was necessary to bring in settlers from regions of Germany. As regards my family, some of them moved to French Lorraine (lunéville) after 1870, my grandfather left alsace for paris when she became French again. There may still be our family in alsace.
@@palupalu5647 well my history
Notes I have numerous books on the German influence in Alsace .
Lot of stuff comes from the
Holy Roman empire period
But it's bit like Strasbourg etc
Neither french or German
It's a bit like saying a Catalan
Is Spanish or Basque is a Catalan .!!
The post cold war ethos of a united Europa and the new
European empire is history repeating itself.
Learn from true history not
Repeat it
Take care.
Some people argue that the region was German by origin and there is some truth in that. Look at the Alsatian language, or perhaps the architecture. Some people refer to the Holy Roman Empire. The Holy Roman Empire (by some seen as the first "German state", which it wasn't) was a loose state association and only an empire in name. Furthermore, it wasn't 'the German nation' since that one came around in 1871. Thirdly, the HRE also had Switzerland and Northern Italy. Should these parts also become part of Germany? It doesn't make sense.
Others refer to how the French King in the 17th century seized the region. But from who? Because a German nation didn't exist. People argue from a German nationalistic point of view. That's an anachronism: nationalism as such came around in the 19th century. And that nation - the German Empire - for sure wasn't one cohesive country. Even in WW1 soldiers from different states resented one another. The troubles in the Imperial Territory of Alsace also occurred elsewhere in the empire. I call it Germany-annexed because the Germans annexed the region from France. People make a fuss about words, but what words should be appropriate? Sometimes I doubt people actually watch the video and just write an angry comment on one word in the title. I find that very short-sighted.
And sure: the region was subjected to Francofication. Then I take a pragmatic stance. So what should we do? Give it back to Germany. That would cause more problems than it would solve.
I believe my video was objective enough. Could it be longer or provided with more details - yes. Share the details in the comments I'd say.
Germany didnt exist in 928 !
👍 And Merry Christmas !
Happy Holidays!
@@HistoryHustle : thanks, you too!
Another fascinating piece about two French regions that had a very rough time 1871-1945 . The demi base of the European parliament in Strasbourg , has been an important part of the healing process , but a bit of an administrative nightmare
Well done Stefan, and once again merde a la Prusse , as they used to say in the regions
Typical racist and ahistorical mumbo jumbo.
@@dieterbarkhoff1328 Too true . Good fun to jape at the expense of the 'master race' . The united nation that blighted the 20th century and have redeemed themselves in the 21st. Whilst Britain becomes an object of pity , contempt and amusement in the modern world , governed by corrupt incompetent clowns.
Britain always was.
Thanks for your reply, Will.
After the "Franco-Prussian War", which was in fact a Franco-German War, Alsace-Lorraine was re(!)-annexed from France as part of the new founded German Empire, because the population's great majority of the new "Reichsland Elsass-Lothringen" was German speaking in spite of the French consecutive conquest of these territories since the 17. century.
And now no more Prussia. The Germans always want, want, want and they have lost a thousand years of conquest with their want.
@@patriciabrenner9216 The Germans have always lost, lost, lost - for centuries. Through secessions, through conquests, especially by France. The conquests of the Nazis were not made in the interest of the Germans, but to establish a racist Aryan empire in Europe. And for this the Germans had to pay dearly.
@@lisamirako1073 Oh please. The Germans have been a destructive force in Europe for centuries. And you forget to add that 43 percent of Germans voted for the Nazis so they are collectiively responsible for their crimes. And I am happy they paid by losing not only Alsace Lorraine (which wasn't theirs anyway) but also East Prussia (soory Mazovia). They were bleating about Gdansk and they lost Konigsberg (sorry Kaliningrad) I for one would have wanted Germany to be deindustrialized and Germans enslaved for at least 10 years after the war to pay some restitution to their victims but it didn't happen. They got off scot free.
@@patriciabrenner9216 From you speaks hatred, no knowledge of history and politics.
I covered the regions history under German administration in another video.
Thanks for speaking slowly . I can understand the contents by slowly speaking English I am Japanens though. 🇯🇵
Great.
What a beautiful place! When we visited, we were told Berlin looked somewhat like Strasboro before the bombing in ww2 and Strasburg is a beauty. War is a shame and embedded in human nature.
@@GreatPolishWingedHussars Sorry to trigger your prejudices, I was merely reporting what we were told. You apparently think wars are justified because you have primitive good and evil view of the world. Maybe a little education would help?
@@GreatPolishWingedHussars What good did nay of that do. The allies gave Poland to the Soviets. Churchill called ww2 "the unnecessary war". My wife's best friend is Polish.
@ polisn husaria
The Russians finished the job of destroying Warsaw.
Without them, a fair bit of the city would have been left standing.
@@fitfrog65 A lot of people who collaborated with the Germans are trying to whitewash their history. This is especially true in Alsace Lorraine... 😞
@@GreatPolishWingedHussars My parents were from Warsaw. They fled to Russi through Byalistock in 1939. I have pictures of them before what was left of their houses in 1946... 😞
Heard in German in Strasbourg in 1981: "We are the happiest nation in the world. We are always liberated"
Always look at the bright side I guess.
Kinda weird that the SS members were pardoned 🧐 always been interested in what happened in that region during the war since it changed hands many times throughout the past few centuries. Great video 🙌🏻
When you think about it, it makes sense. Many french people collaborated and france was trying to cover that up. It's easier to say those men were forced conscripts and not war criminals than to admit that some french people collaborated with the nazis
Not enough ropes were stretched post war throughout the world.
They were enrolled against their will by the Germans and were young men. If they had escaped, their families would have been arrested and deported. What is not said in the video is that among of the people of Oradour there were refugees from Lorraine and Alsace.
Thanks for watching, Mo!
Very interesting Bro, please need to correct some informations, of course I live in Lorraine, and know well WW2 question, so :
- Maginot line is buildt from 1933 to 35/37, Alsace is only german again ( 1st period was from 1871 to 1918 ) from november 1940 to 44/45, so the maginot line builded was made when alsace was french, and before begin of WW2 in Sept. 1939
- Malgré nous: Alsace and Lorraine forced enlisted : all went to Wehrmacht, for SS it was only volonters ! so a court have judge them about Ouradour cause these guys ask to join SS, so French after war says they are guilty to be volonters and to have follow orders. All Lorraine/ Alsace forced enlisted ( nearly 130 000 peoples ) were put in Wehrmacht, and some in Luftwaffe, and mainly to Russia front.
- Russian don't recongnize the status of French forced enlisted, after they were prisonners of war by Russians, De Gaulle have put in place with stalin, an operation to liberate 1500 of them in 1944 ( I have meet one of them, witness of an incredible historical steps ) and they come back to France via Rafa in Palestinia, after 3 weeks of trucks from Russia..and arrive to Marseille France by boat, of course during the transfert the Free French forces ask them if they want to be now in De Gaulle Free French army ( my witness say no to this offer ), the liberation of the 1500 coming from bloody and scary prisonners camp call Tambov ( a lot of mosquitoes there ! ) only for forced enlisted Alsace and Lorraine guys, so in a way Russians know that it was not " normal" german soldiers...typical bad attitude from communists...
Thanks for all your Memory work Bro ! well done.....
Thanks for watching.
Hi Stefan Interesting video I was wondering whether you might intend to make a video about Vichy France at some point in the future I realise that Vichy is a thorny contentious subject, but I think that it is important to the story of occupied Europe, and it would benefit from your even-handed unbiased approach
Will cover Vichy at some point. Dunno when.
thank you for this video. Alsace's population is rather German than France imo
Thanks for your reply.
Thankfully alsatians don't care about your opinion.
@@lsq7833 I've heard it. It was ca. 50-50% German and French, but more German. And France annexed it maybe in Napoleon's time or earlier from Germany.
@@timeanagy8495 hre there was no germany
@@camm8642 but there were many little German areas, provinces, kingdoms, etc. like Italy.
The problem the French alwas had, the could extenr their territoy only eastward, meaning areas with german speaking populations..meaning areas that are prent Germany or the annexed parts or stolen by France with military force.
Some people argue that the region was German by origin and there is some truth in that. Look at the Alsatian language, or perhaps the architecture. Some people refer to the Holy Roman Empire. The Holy Roman Empire (by some seen as the first "German state", which it wasn't) was a loose state association and only an empire in name. Furthermore, it wasn't 'the German nation' since that one came around in 1871. Thirdly, the HRE also had Switzerland and Northern Italy. Should these parts also become part of Germany? It doesn't make sense.
Others refer to how the French King in the 17th century seized the region. But from who? Because a German nation didn't exist. People argue from a German nationalistic point of view. That's an anachronism: nationalism as such came around in the 19th century. And that nation - the German Empire - for sure wasn't one cohesive country. Even in WW1 soldiers from different states resented one another. The troubles in the Imperial Territory of Alsace also occurred elsewhere in the empire. I call it Germany-annexed because the Germans annexed the region from France. People make a fuss about words, but what words should be appropriate? Sometimes I doubt people actually watch the video and just write an angry comment on one word in the title. I find that very short-sighted.
And sure: the region was subjected to Francofication. Then I take a pragmatic stance. So what should we do? Give it back to Germany. That would cause more problems than it would solve.
I believe my video was objective enough. Could it be longer or provided with more details - yes. Share the details in the comments I'd say.
When are you travelling to Czech Republic sir? 🙏🏻
Dunno yet.
US Army, 42nd “Rainbow” Infantry Division ~ WW2
They were called Task Force Linden, under the command of Brigadier General Henning Linden, and they marched from the coast up to the German-held French region of Alsace as part of the 7th Army.
My fathers men and units, the 42nd Division, took up a 31-mile sector along the Rhine River defensive lines.
In all the 42nd Rainbow Division fought through and across the frozen heights of the Ardennes, close to 40 towns and cities, The Battle of The Bulge, The Rhineland Campaign, and The Siegfried Line.
~\~
42nd Rainbow Command Posts ~ WW2
222nd, 232nd (my fathers unit), 242nd Infantry Regiments.
Dates ~ Towns ~ Region
24.12.1944 Strasbourg Bas-Rhine France
26.12.1944 Koenigshoffen Bas-Rhine
06.01.1945 Hagenau Bas-Rhine
24.01.1945 Hochfelden Bas-Rhine
29.01.1945 Vic-sur-Seille Moselle France
* All the above dates: Task Force Linden (composed of three regiments and detachment of Division Headquarters of 42nd Infantry Division became operational prior to arrival in European Theater of Operations of entire division).
06.02.1945 Vic-sur-Seille Moselle France
* Command Post of entire division.
Task Force Linden dissolved this date.
17.02.1945 La Petite Pierre (Lutzelstein) Bas-Rhine France
15.03.1945 Wimmenau Bas-Rhine France
18.03.1945 Barenthal Bas-Rhine
19.03.1945 Phillipsbourg Bas-Rhine
22.03.1945 Obersteinbach Bas-Rhine
25.03.1945 Dahn Pfalz Germany
01.04.1945 Klein Heubach Baden Germany
WW2 Photographs...
Please may I ask if you or anyone reading that's reading this, possibly have or know of any photographs taken in these towns and regions, during WW2, then would you please be able to show and or send them to me.
Very much appreciated, kind regards, Jed.
Hope you got any replies.
Arsene Wenger, former Arsenal coach, speaks Alsatian in addition to French, and I think German
Ok👍
You didn't mention the Alsace - Lorraine people's reaction about the annexation. I was wondering: Were they happy to be liberated from France or not?
There is no universal answer to that. Many were happy to return to the area since the French had evacuated most of them. But living under Nazi rule it soon appeared things had turned for the worse.
@@HistoryHustle you didn't mention a lot of things. As a Lorrainer, i am a little upset. It is not accurate to our history. People get wrong.
Très bien. merci ! Un Alsacien... Nous recherchons des documents (photos, films...) sur la libération de Barr (Alsace) des 28 et 29 novembre 1944, par les troupes américaines. Auriez-vous une piste ?
Most of it I understand except the last question. Please explain.
@@HistoryHustle he's just asking you if you know how to do it, who to contact, to consult documents about liberation of the city of Barr by american troops, in november 1944. Do you have any leads fort that ? And I add please.
have a great xmas hus
Happy Holidays 🎅👍
That region deserves its own state. Great video. Thank you.
Ok.
The Rhine frontier between German speakers and French speakers is also the place where Askenazi Jews began. Ashkenaz was the Hebrew name for the Rhine Valley. Speyer, Trier, Wurms were important Jewish settlements. There is a 1000 year old synagogue in Wurms, which has been partly destroyed three times: by Crusaders, by Nazis, and by Palestinians. Today it is maintained by the government as a museum.
When the Estates General met in Paris, following French Revolution, in 1789, emancipation of the Jews of France was debated. While the Estates General debated, the Jews of Alsace ceased paying their punitive taxes, and moved out of the ghettos. The Estates General did not come to a decision about the Jews in 1789. Nonetheless, Jewish emancipation became fait accompli.
Dreyfus (three foot) is an Alsatian Jewish name, likely referring to a person who walks with a cane/ crutch.
The Jews do not think of themselves as a relentlessly tragic people. They think of themselves as alternating between glory and tragedy. Jews prefer to focus on the glory.
Didn't know this. Thanks for sharing this.
you didn't mention a lot of things. As a Lorrainer, i am a little upset. It is not accurate to our history. People get wrong. That is the same as your previous video.
Feel free to add information.
In Strasbourg we have the famous story of Marcel Weinum who was a teenager who formed a pro France / pro Christian resistance group named "la main noire" in the city. He was trial and killed aged 18.
Alsace also produced the great general Marie-Pierre Koenig who was the general that led the Free French in the battle of Bir Hakeim against Rommel !
Thanks for sharing this.
Interesting!
Thanks James!
@@HistoryHustle I recently watched the Netflix film De Slag om de Sheilde i . Very good in my opinion.
It was not annexed in 1871. It was liberated after the french did annex it in 1648
Annex is neutral. Liberate not so.
Muammar Gaddafi, prone to outlandish ideas, proposed moving Israel to Alsace-Lorraine. Presumably the existing population would be resettled. He argued that Germany and France would inevitably fight over the territory again and that a buffer Jewish state to which neither country had a valid claim could prevent future conflict. Removing Israel from the Middle East, meanwhile, would bring peace to that part of the world.
Gaddafi never disappointed... ;-)
Gaddafi said many crazy things.
You forgot to mention that this formerly german territory at first had been annexed by the french.
From who? Germany back then didn't exist. Some people refer to the Holy Roman Empire. The Holy Roman Empire (by some seen as the first "German state", which it wasn't) was a loose state association and only an empire in name. Furthermore, it wasn't 'the German nation' since that one came around in 1871. Thirdly, the HRE also had Switzerland and Northern Italy. Should these parts also become part of Germany? It doesn't make sense.
Was there a large Swiss population on this region?
I believe not.
Elsass Lothringen might not be German, but it is sure as hell not French....same with Charles rhe Great, Charlemagne or Karl der Grosse
It's indeed a contested region.
Charlemagne was neither German nor French. Neither Germany nor France existed at the time. Charlemagne was a Frank. Period.
Wagner was not his real name, the real one was "Backfisch"', but he seemed to have been ashamed of it... I had an uncle who was incorporated by force in the Wehrmacht, and sent to "Ostfront". Near Daugvapîls (Latvia) he and his comrades decided to surrender to the Red Army. They were sent to a labour camp by Tambov, in Russia. Many of his comrades died, but he survived and came back to Alsace after the end of the war...
Thanks for sharing. Have you ever spoken to your uncle about his experiences in Soviet captivity? How was that for him? Feel free to share.
@@HistoryHustle Well, after what he experienced in Tambov, he would of course not feel very kind towards the Stalinian regime, especially after having read the Soviet tracts that said that the French people from Alsace-Lorraine under German uniform would be treated nicely in the USSR... He was a good drawer and when he came back to Alsace, he made a booklet telling and describing about what he had experienced and how was life (and death) in Tambov. But he was neither very happy about Germany nor France, because he never got any compensation, the Germans saying that he was French and therefore it was the problem of France, and of course the French ensuring that if he had been under German uniform, the question was a German one... Also in France, many people assumed that all Alsatians were nazis, because some of them joined the SS, and in particular participated in tne massacre of Oradour-sur-Glane (while the SS general Lammerding, who was in charge of this division in 1944, peacefully ended his life in Düsseldorf without being bothered, in 1971)...
What happened to Robert Heinrich Wagner after the war?
Firing squad in 1946.
@@HistoryHustle Thanks and Happy Holidays.
Very interesting. How about a video why Hitler decided to invade Poland and other countries. I'm sure there were reasons, right or wrong. Was the Treaty of Versailles the Catalyst for the war?
More on that here:
ua-cam.com/video/4TlKvJ52TZk/v-deo.html
And even more interesting, nowadays Mr Putin does exactly the same in his area, but nobody seems to care (so do the Chinese too...) Bis repetita placent...
how did AL become part of Soviet Union in 1918 ???? (one minute mark) so·vi·et definition 1.
an elected local, district, or national council in the former Soviet Union. a revolutionary council of workers or peasants in Russia before 1917.
2. a citizen of the former Soviet Union.
:soviet; plural noun: soviets; noun: Soviet; plural noun: Soviets
1. an elected local, district, or national council in the former Soviet Union.
a revolutionary council of workers or peasants in Russia before 1917.
2. a citizen of the former Soviet Union.
It was a short-lived state. Not related to the USSR I think.
Some people I've met from Alsace have a very German sounding accent in English, even if they are as French as anybody.
Alsatian is related to the German language.
@@HistoryHustle Alsatian is not "related" to the German language, it is a German dialect!
@@lisamirako1073 and it is disappearing.
@@patriciabrenner9216 Yes, thanks to the French policy of forced assimilation.
@@lisamirako1073 Francxe has always been an assimilative country. Occitan and Breton are also disappearing. It makes for cohesion.
* 3:48 - "anatomy", not "autonomy".
Ok.
Was annexed by Germany in 1940-1944/45. NOT occupied.
Think the people of the region felt quite different.
@@HistoryHustle They surely felt it differently (my family included) compared to the rest of the French who were only occupied.
It's not "Alsazelo'aine" it's "Alsase-Lorraine", two words...
And so on!
Ok.
The nazies were obviously wrong, but France had no business making alsace lorraine french, same with corsica, basque country, french flanders, biittany, etc.
Maybe try to learn European history.
@@patriciabrenner9216 I have learned a decent amount.
@@jonnykaykorn3060 doesn't look like it
@@patriciabrenner9216 Well clearly France annexed territories that werent to French unless Strasbourg, Dunkirk, Ajaccio sound French to you.
@@jonnykaykorn3060 You obviously have no knowledge of French regional languages.
"Benelux" seems quaint.
Yeah.
Elsaß-Lothringen, the sequel
👍
👍
👌
Ohhh knock, knock? Who’s there??
Where the 100k special???? Lol
But serious!! Lmao!!
Haha, well I have a great line-up for you: how about the Italian WW2 army, the Battle of Budapest, Dutch Waffen-SS and the Walloon Legion. I'll also do a Q&A but since I'll be traveling and filming in Belgium after Christmas, that will have to wait till early January :)
@@HistoryHustle
Ok, anything you post interest me!!
And hell yeah!!
Ohhh man more site locations!!
Awesome!! Can’t wait!! Tell us more!!
@@HistoryHustle
Stay safe!!!!
William Wyler and the Marx brothers were from Alsace.
You forgot where Audie Murphy earned his Medal of Honour.
Nope, discussed that in the Colmar Pocket video.
It was German then. It is German today. It is German forever.
🤨
@ELIE KOPTER for now.
@ELIE KOPTER historically European borders are sometimes, fluid.
It will remain French. The population is by now completely French.
I've met people from Alsace who told me in German
"Ich bin Franzose" which go to show a person's ethnic identity and Nationality may be different.
For sure. Yet, there is more to it. When I was in Basel people say: "Ich bin Schweizer".