Area of NE France, lying west of the river
Rhine. It forms the French regions of Alsace
and Lorraine. The former iron and steel
industries are being replaced by electronics,
chemicals, and precision engineering. The
German dialect spoken does not have equal
rights with French, and there is autonomist
sentiment. Alsace-Lorraine formed part of
Celtic Gaul in Caesar's time, was invaded by
the Alemanni and other Germanic tribes in the
4th century, and remained part of the German
Empire until the 17th century. In 1648 part
of the territory was ceded to France; in 1681
Louis XIV seized Strasbourg. The few
remaining districts were seized by France
after the French Revolution. Conquered by
Germany 1870-71 (chiefly for its iron ores),
it was regained by France 1919, then again
annexed by Germany 1940-44, when it was
liberated by the Allies.