General name of the German territory along the Rhine roughly below the Main mouth. The modern borders of the current definition were given by Prussia, of which “Rhineland” was a province. However, presently it is divided between the two German states North-Rhine Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate. Historically, a full Rhine border had been a French aim for a very long time. The French did annex the west bank during the Revolutionary Wars, but it fell to Prussia afterwards as mentioned above. After WW1 it became first French occupied and then demilitarised, but Hitler restored German military souvereignity there 1936 without repurcussions. While ther ethe French tried to get a Rhinish seperatist movement started (see flag below), but that was wishful thinking on their part, and the whole “movement” was much French agitating, but nearly no German members, though later German chancellor Adenauer may or may not have been a Rhinish seperatist (or for that matter may or may not have been a collobrateur with the French occupation troops).

However, somehow the thought of an independant Rhineland stuck, and many believe there was in fact a genuine movement. Consequently, the Rhineland is often independent in many timelines with a disunited Germany.

It is also home to an (in)famous dish called sauerbraten.

See also:

rhineland_a_darker_world_war_ii