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Ever since 1871 France had been bitterly hostile to Germany because of the harsh treatment at the end of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71. In 1871 France had been forced to hand over most of Alsace and Lorraine to the newly unified Germany and to pay substantial reparations. The defeat of France in about six months had raised a little question- mark beside its claim to great power status. One of the reasons why the annexation of Alsace and Lorraine caused such resentment was the inhabitants (though German-speaking in the Alsace) identified with France and saw themselves as French. They were never really accepted as German in Germany. In his retirement, Bismarck said that the treatment of France in 1871 had been a blunder as it had created a permanent enemy. Following Germany's declaration of war on Russia in 1914, France was obliged under the terms of its treaty with Russia (dating from 1892) to assist Russia. Moreover, over 3 million German troops were advancing towards France. Joncey

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