What if France included Belgium and Luxembourg?

**Mikula** · 05-17-2018, 06:39 AM

2:54

**~~TheForeigner~~** · 05-17-2018, 06:47 AM

Originally Posted by Bobby Martnen

Germany should have gotten Alsace-Lorraine in 1815. France has no business ruling an ethnically German territory, anyway.

There was no Germany as a state, in 1815.

**~~Bobby Martnen~~** · 05-17-2018, 06:52 AM

Originally Posted by Foreigner

There was no Germany as a state, in 1815.

It should have gone to Prussia, then.

**~~TheForeigner~~** · 05-17-2018, 06:54 AM

Originally Posted by Bobby Martnen

It should have gone to Prussia, then.

The French would have waited for the right time to make war on Prussia and take the provinces back. I think the people of Alsace-Lorraine consider themselves part of the French nation and are loyal to France and have been for centuries by now.

**~~TheForeigner~~** · 05-17-2018, 06:57 AM

I also think that a stronger France would have been better for Europe. Germany behaved like a bully between 1871 and 1945, while France post-1815 had a more prudent policy in Europe. France also supported the unification of Italy and Romania and generally supported the principle of nationality in Europe.

**~~Bobby Martnen~~** · 05-17-2018, 06:58 AM

Originally Posted by Foreigner

The French would have waited for the right time to make war on Prussia and take the provinces back. I think the people of Alsace-Lorraine consider themselves part of the French nation and are loyal to France and have been for centuries by now.

That's only because of post-WWII brainwashing. Most were happy to be reunified with Germany.

The Brits should have allied with the Germans to crush the French, instead of what they actually did, allying with the French to crush the Germans.

**~~TheForeigner~~** · 05-17-2018, 07:02 AM

Originally Posted by Bobby Martnen

That's only because of post-WWII brainwashing. Most were happy to be reunified with Germany.

The Brits should have allied with the Germans to crush the French, instead of what they actually did, allying with the French to crush the Germans.

No, it was much earlier than ww1. Also, many statesmen in Britain and Europe were against Germany annexing Alsace-Lorraine in 1871. The French nation is an ethnically composite one. It's not just ethnic French who are part of the French nation. Alsacians,Bretons,Basques and others are also loyal and proud Frenchmen and have been for centuries.

**Dandelion** · 05-17-2018, 07:40 AM

Originally Posted by Foreigner

The population was loyal or quiet enough during the French occupation of the revolutionary and napoleonic wars era. And wasn't even the Flemish aristocracy and elite French speaking and Francophile?

And it didn't last forever. You might be a Francophile, but historically the County of Flanders used to be part of West Francia for longer with a French loyalist side and an autonomist side. Moreover, we are a lot more relevant than Corsica (which aren't French loyalist at all neither).

This is different from annexing smalll region.

It's a mistake to think there would be no opposition. Enough examples in history of that (e.g. the failed attempt by the Duke of Anjou to annex Antwerp). And that treaty of Aix-La-Chapelle was even opposed by the British because it gave a tiny bit of territory to France.

**Dandelion** · 05-17-2018, 07:50 AM

Originally Posted by Foreigner

No, it was much earlier than ww1. Also, many statesmen in Britain and Europe were against Germany annexing Alsace-Lorraine in 1871. The French nation is an ethnically composite one. It's not just ethnic French who are part of the French nation. Alsacians,Bretons,Basques and others are also loyal and proud Frenchmen and have been for centuries.

It's only your Francophilia speaking. And Romanians neither would embrace French occupation, just you would. Until you realise French are too atheist and find Romanians backward Christians lol. You even told me 'tell me you're no atheist, plz' as if it were negative. Very Romanian thing to say.

**~~TheForeigner~~** · 05-17-2018, 08:18 AM

Originally Posted by Danielion

It's only your Francophilia speaking. And Romanians neither would embrace French occupation, just you would. Until you realise French are too atheist and find Romanians backward Christians lol. You even told me 'tell me you're no atheist, plz' as if it were negative. Very Romanian thing to say.

Yes, fair enough, but was nationalism a real force in Flanders or anywhere back in 1748? Wasn't the upper class in the Flemish provinces French speaking and Francophile. And you are right France would have been against annexation, but could not have done much to stop it and after a few decades of French occupation, Britain and all Europe would have accepted those provinces as part of France.