[colorado tanker]

The problems in this part of Europe go all the way back to the bequest of Charlemagne. It was the custom of his people to divide the inheritance among all the sons. They did not follow the rule of primogeniture. So, Charlemagne split his empire into thirds. One was the future France, one was the future Germany and the third was an unwieldy barbell shaped dominion squeezed in between.

Lothair's dominion was not militarily viable and Europeans fought over that middle land (and Northern Italy) for centuries.

[morphing libertarian]

Thanx. I remember the story of the split vaguely. I love historical maps.

I have another connection. My dad was a scout in the third army and I’m sure he went through the region, but he never gave us much detail. D-day plus 6 all the way to Berlin.