page_title: France–Germany relations
section_title: First World War
hierarchical_section_title: France–Germany relations / History / First World War
caption_attribution_description: For documentary purposes the German Federal Archive often retained the original image captions, which may be erroneous, biased, obsolete or politically extreme. Deutsch: Das Rheinland ist frei! Der Abzug der letzten Franzosen aus Mainz! Die letzte französischen Truppen-Parade vor dem Hauptbahnhof in Mainz während des Abschreitens des französischen Oberkommandierenden General Guillaumat kurz vor der Abfahrt. Français&#160;: Archives fédérales d'Allemagne - Photo 102-10038, — "Mayence – Retrait des troupes françaises". — Légende originale de la photo (1930)&#160;: La Rhénanie est libre&#160;! Le retrait des derniers Français de Mayence&#160;! Le dernier défilé des troupes françaises devant la gare centrale de Mayence lors du départ du commandant en chef français, le général Guillaumat, peu avant son départ.
context_page_description: The relations between France and Germany form an integral part of the wider politics of Europe with both countries being founder and leading Member states of the European Union and its predecessor the European Communities since its inception in 1958 with the signing of the Treaty of Rome.
  General relations between the two countries since 1871, according to Ulrich Krotz, have had three grand periods: 'hereditary enmity', 'reconciliation' and since 1963 the 'special relationship' embodied in a cooperation called Franco-German Friendship.
  In the context of the European Union, the cooperation between the two countries is immense and intimate. Even though France has at times been eurosceptical in outlook, especially under President Charles de Gaulle, Franco-German agreements and cooperations have always been key to furthering the ideals of European integration.
  In recent times, France and Germany are among the most enthusiastic proponents of the further integration of the EU. They are sometimes described as the "twin engine" or "core countries" pushing for moves.
context_section_description: The long-term French reaction to defeat in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71 was Revanchism: a deep sense of bitterness, hatred and demand for revenge against Germany, especially because of the loss of Alsace and Lorraine. Paintings that emphasized the humiliation of the defeat came in high demand, such as those by Alphonse de Neuville.
  French foreign policy was based on a fear that Germany was larger and steadily growing more powerful.  Apart perhaps from the German threat, most Frenchmen ignored foreign affairs and colonial issues. In 1914 the chief pressure group was the Parti colonial, a coalition of 50 organizations with a combined total of 5000 members.  The issue of Alsace-Lorraine faded in importance after 1880 with the decline of the monarchist element but when war broke out in 1914, recovery of the two lost provinces became France's primary war aim.
  After Bismarck's removal in 1890, French efforts to isolate Germany became successful; with the formation of the Triple Entente, Germany began to feel encircled.  Foreign minister Delcassé, especially, went to great pains to woo Russia and Great Britain. Key markers were the Franco-Russian Alliance of 1894, the 1904 Entente Cordiale with Great Britain, and finally the Anglo-Russian Entente in 1907 which became the Triple Entente. This formal alliance with Russia, and informal alignment with Britain, against Germany and Austria eventually led Russia and Britain to enter World War I as France's Allies.
caption: French Army troops gathering before their departure from Rhineland, occupied Mainz, 1930
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