German Empire annexes Luxembourg instead of Alsace-Lorraine?

I've read some threads about Germany not annexing Alsace-Lorraine. A lot of people have said that German nationalists demanded "something" to be annexed though there were those including Bismark who were worried that it would lead to perpetual enmity between France and Germany. So maybe if Germany annexes Luxembourg instead German nationalist are happy they got something while the French are not haunted for decades with thoughts of the "Lost Province".
 
There are several problems with this, including that Luxembourg was a neutral country, rather than a belligerent; it was, at the time, in personal union with the Netherlands, meaning that it would bring Germany into conflict with the Dutch; it was, as provinces go, a far less worthwhile prize than Alsace-Lorraine, which provided security, strategic depth, the fortress city of Metz, and loads of iron, and Britain would have objected, as it would have weakened the Low Countries' status as a buffer state between Britain's southwest and the Continent.
 
There are several problems with this, including that Luxembourg was a neutral country, rather than a belligerent; it was, at the time, in personal union with the Netherlands, meaning that it would bring Germany into conflict with the Dutch; it was, as provinces go, a far less worthwhile prize than Alsace-Lorraine, which provided security, strategic depth, the fortress city of Metz, and loads of iron, and Britain would have objected, as it would have weakened the Low Countries' status as a buffer state between Britain's southwest and the Continent.

I know the advantages Alsace-Lorraine has over Luxembourg for Germany it is clearly the superior prize however I was thinking this as more of a compromise proposal. I didn't know about the personal union with the Dutch but I still think it might be doable. I think I read somewhere that Germany was planning on annexing it a few years before the Franco-Prussian war but France prevented them. Now that France is utterly defeated I'm sure it would realise that Germany annexing Luxembourg is vastly preferable to it annexing Alsace-Lorraine. I don't think this effects the buffer between Britain much at all after all Belgium and the Netherlands still exist. The British might officially disapprove but they are not going to war over it especially now that France is out. Also this is before the Cardwell Reforms. It might increase British-German hostility for a while but not for very long and not as severely compared to what losing Alsace-Lorraine did to Franco-German hostility. As for the Dutch maybe Germany could buy it off them or something. Obviously the Dutch are not going to war over it.
 
I think I read somewhere that Germany was planning on annexing it a few years before the Franco-Prussian war but France prevented them.

You've got it backwards. Just before the Austro-Prussian war, Bismarck offered France free reign to negotiate with the Netherlands for the annexation of Luxembourg in exchange for French neutrality in the upcoming hostilities (France and Austria had traditionally been allies since the end of the Napoleonic wars). Well, France held to their side of the bargain, and offered the Dutch king a significant sum to renounce the title of Grand Duke in favour of Nappy 3, but German nationalist pressure forced Bismarck to renege and threaten war.
 
You've got it backwards. Just before the Austro-Prussian war, Bismarck offered France free reign to negotiate with the Netherlands for the annexation of Luxembourg in exchange for French neutrality in the upcoming hostilities (France and Austria had traditionally been allies since the end of the Napoleonic wars). Well, France held to their side of the bargain, and offered the Dutch king a significant sum to renounce the title of Grand Duke in favour of Nappy 3, but German nationalist pressure forced Bismarck to renege and threaten war.

Ah ok. But still the argument is basically the same. After the Franco-Prussian War France can't annex Luxembourg so Germany may as well. Instead of Alsace-Lorraine German nationalists can annex another German speaking territory, which, while not as valuable would not piss of France nearly as much.
 
I've read some threads about Germany not annexing Alsace-Lorraine. A lot of people have said that German nationalists demanded "something" to be annexed though there were those including Bismark who were worried that it would lead to perpetual enmity between France and Germany.

That perpetual enmity existed in the heads of the people well before 1871. Founding the German Empire in Versailles didn't help either. And France as the dominant power before the foundation of the Empire will more likely be an adversary anyway. The only way to turn that after the war would be to have a common enemy for France and Germany at hand. As that can only be Britain, the question is why Germany at that time should become an enemy of Britain.
 
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