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The Franco-German border crisis was a brief political crisis that took place in early May 1921, as French and German politicians demanded one another to take responsibility for the Dieulouard incident where a group of drunk German soldiers visiting killed twenty innocent French civilians.
Despite desperate attempts, a peace negotiation could not be settled, especially due to German Chancellor Friedrich Ebert being stubborn and refusing to take responsibility for the actions of soldiers in the German Army. As a result, mobilisation began as France and Germany both searched for allies. Britain and Spain agreed to help France against Germany to form the West European Coalition. Germany managed to get Italy and Sweden, two members of the Quadruple Alliance, on its side while Austria-Hungary would remain neutral due to issues within the country. War became official on the 26th of May, and the Second Franco-Prussian War began.
Background[]
Main Article: First Franco-Prussian War
The First Franco-Prussian War was a short but major war in 1870s Europe, since it resulted in the unification of the North German Confederation and the southern German states, creating the modern German Empire state. However, the war also resulted in the transfer of the region Alsace–Lorraine from France to Germany, which caused some anger within the French population, and led to the rise of quite extreme nationalism within the French population, who wanted the French government to declare war on Germany and retake the region.
In the 1890s, the German and French governments started to work towards a more friendlier relationship with each other.
Dieulouard incident[]
Main Article: Dieulouard incident
Events[]
Berlin Conference[]
Main Article: Berlin Conference (1921)