After WWII, the Saarland remained in an uncertain position for several years until it joined the BRD.
There were several alternative outcomes, including independence as a new border state like a new Luxembourg, or flat out joining France.
If the Saarland had voted to become French - what would the cultural impact have been?
We can discuss this on broader terms, but to start this off I want to specifically ask about language -
Would use of german have noticeably declined after joining Fance?
Two flavours to this, with sub-flavours:
I. POD after WWII
1- Would the people of the Saarland stop referring to their language as german and instead start calling it "a unique germanic language closely related to german"?
2a- Would the local dialect be pushed away by french, fading out of use over the generations?
2b- If not, would that lead to tension with Paris?
I. Same with POD after WWI already
There were several alternative outcomes, including independence as a new border state like a new Luxembourg, or flat out joining France.
If the Saarland had voted to become French - what would the cultural impact have been?
We can discuss this on broader terms, but to start this off I want to specifically ask about language -
Would use of german have noticeably declined after joining Fance?
Two flavours to this, with sub-flavours:
I. POD after WWII
1- Would the people of the Saarland stop referring to their language as german and instead start calling it "a unique germanic language closely related to german"?
2a- Would the local dialect be pushed away by french, fading out of use over the generations?
2b- If not, would that lead to tension with Paris?
I. Same with POD after WWI already