Alsace and Lorraine are the names of two adjacent regions. In German they are Elsaß and Lothringen. Alsace and Lorraine are not different names for the same place, but unique names for two places which adjoin one another. In a message dated 2/28/2011 4:55:23 P.M. Central Standard Time, kathys_old_house@goldrush.com writes: So far, I've been getting some marvelous responses to my query! Thank you all! I guess my cousin just wants to believe the fairy story about Alsace-Lorraine for some reason, and doesn't want to know about any facts. That will be her choice! Oh well..... From: hesse-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:hesse-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Marleen Van Horne Sent: Monday, February 28, 2011 12:14 PM To: hesse@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [HESSE] (no subject) This is my understanding of the situation: The Alsace/Lorraine region is/was a state that under different political circumstances was in either Germany or France. It is currently a part of France. Alzey, however, has always been in the German state of Hesse-Darmstadt. The confusion, as I see it is in the fact that on various occasions, as a result of war, that part of Hesse-Darmstadt on the west side of the Rhein River has been occupied by France, i.e., the Napoleonic Wars, WWI and WWII. In each instance the territory was eventually returned to the German state. Alsace and Lorraine are the same place, called Alsace by the Germans and Lorraine by the French. Hessen is north and east of Alsace/Lorraine, and is well within the borders of present day Germany. This state does not share a border with France, and was only under French control as an occupied territory. I am sure if I have gotten this wrong, someone more knowledgeable will correct me. Marleen Van Horne ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to HESSE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message _____ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1204 / Virus Database: 1435/3473 - Release Date: 02/28/11 ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to HESSE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message