River Without A Land: Alsace and Rhineland in the Making of Modern Regionalism, 1830-1936

Although the Rhenish territories were unique places in France and Germany, the people did not sees themselves as belonging to territories or sharing identities. The rise of democratic politics and nationalism during the nineteenth century forced them to reconsider their worldviews. Engaging the realities of the nation, the people of Alsace and the Rhine Province began articulating what they wanted from France and Germany and where they fit in those nations. Politicians, along with artists and social scientists, strove to understand the land that the people inhabited and what brought them together. These efforts focused first on the natural and built landscape—the river, the cities, and the cathedrals. Increasingly, they looked more at how they worked as regions, examining the long history of exchange between cities and communities. This exploration of history and identity went hand in hand with efforts to make their provinces and territories meaningful places of regional politics. Efforts focused on political rights to create legislation for the territories and have natives in administration. Their efforts were hampered by notions that they were on the periphery of their nations. The formation of the German Empire (Kaiserreich) enhanced that perception, and Alsatians and Rhinelanders were considered to be the "losers" and "enemies of unification. Regionalism focused on obtaining states' rights for their respective provinces, but were confronted by critiques of their loyalty and suggestions that they were not positioned to work on that level. The 1920s presented new opportunities to put forth claims for regional development, not just for Alsace and Rhineland, but both for France and Germany. However, the presence of radical movement for autonomy and separatism created an atmosphere that was difficult for politicians for regionalism to work in, making it appear that they wanted to break apart the nation.