France 1914

If Prussia had not annexed Alsace Lorraine in 1871, what other issue could the establishment have used to fire and bind French national consciousness in the way that recovering AL was used in WW1.
Was there anything that could be used as such and does this allow for a negotiated peace in 1916.
__________________
 
As already Bismarck had said: the French would never forget the humilation of 1870/71 and would be out for revenge anyway - thus, one should worsen their geographical disposition for attacking Germany by annexing A-L.

The French will to fight in the Great War was motivated by the knowledge of having been invaded. I don't think A-L played any important role in the Poilus' determination to beat back the invader. - Poincaré and the other French warmongers had done an excellent job in presenting France as the offended innocence - to the world and to their own people.
 
Top