Alsace

Alsace is the fourth-smallest of the 26 regions of France in land area, and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the sixth-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France. Alsace is located on France's eastern border and on the west bank of the upper Rhine adjacent to Germany and Switzerland. The political, economic and cultural capital as well as largest city of Alsace is Strasbourg. Due to that city being the seat of dozens of international organizations and bodies, Alsace is politically one of the most important regions in the European Union.

The region was historically part of the Holy Roman Empire. It was gradually annexed by France in the 17th century under kings Louis XIII and Louis XIV and made one of the provinces of France. Alsace is frequently mentioned in conjunction with Lorraine, because German possession of parts of these two régions (as the imperial province Alsace-Lorraine, 1871–1918) was contested in the 19th and 20th centuries, during which Alsace changed hands four times between France and Germany in 75 years.

Alsace in Southern Victory
Alsace had been part the German province of Alsace-Lorraine since 1871. In the lead up to the Second Great War, French king Charles XI demanded plebiscites be held in Alsace and Lorraine, a demand German Kaiser Wilhelm II refused. After Wilhelm II died, his sucessor, Wilhelm III, refused similar demands. France responded by invading Alsace and Lorraine, triggering the Second Great War in Europe.

France officially claimed initial victories there early in the war In the long run, however, Germany prevailed and kept the territory.

Alsace in Worldwar
Alsace was the scene of several tank/landcruiser engagements between Germany and the Race in 1943.