So again, what was so implausible about Germany not claiming Alsace-Lorraine?
It allmost happened. Bismarck himself didn't want the place!
It might have been historic german land, but is that so important? Austria had been parto fo the first reich, and was inhabited by Germans, and Bismarck's Germany did not try to annex it. Switzerland had bbeen part of the first reich and was partially populated by germans, and Germany did not try to annex it. The Netherlands were part of the first reich and had a germanic popultion, and Germany did not thry to annex them. Alsace-Lorraine should not have had any greater "sentimental value" then those other regions.
It allmost happened. Bismarck himself didn't want the place!
It might have been historic german land, but is that so important? Austria had been parto fo the first reich, and was inhabited by Germans, and Bismarck's Germany did not try to annex it. Switzerland had bbeen part of the first reich and was partially populated by germans, and Germany did not try to annex it. The Netherlands were part of the first reich and had a germanic popultion, and Germany did not thry to annex them. Alsace-Lorraine should not have had any greater "sentimental value" then those other regions.