Lorraine

Lorraine is one of the 26 régions of France. The administrative region has two cities of equal importance, Metz and Nancy. Metz is considered to be the official capital since that is where the regional parliament is situated. The region's name is derived from the medieval Lotharingia.

Lorraine is frequently mentioned in conjunction with Alsace, 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.

Lorraine in Southern Victory
After the Great War, Germany took the remainder of Lorraine from France, expanding the German province of Alsace-Lorraine.

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.