Alsace is a historical territory and a regional government in eastern France, on the border with Germany and Switzerland. It has a strong cultural identity, both French and German. Integrated three times into the German Empire, it had to adapt to its laws of integration. Its youth was recruited by force during the two world wars. Many of these Malgré-nous (against our will) soldiers attempted to desert the Wehrmacht (German infantry). They were imprisoned in camps or sacrificed on the Russian front.