<Li> Moselle Franconian in the central northern part of Moselle around Boulay - Moselle (Bolchin in the local Moselle Franconian dialect) and Bouzonville (Busendroff in the local Moselle Franconian dialect). </Li> <Li> Rhine Franconian in the north - east of Moselle around Forbach (Fuerboch in the local Rhine Franconian dialect), Bitche (Bitsch in the local Rhine Franconian dialect), and Sarrebourg (Saarbuerj in the local Rhine Franconian dialect), as well as in the north - west of Alsace around Sarre - Union (Buckenum in the local Rhine Franconian dialect) and La Petite - Pierre (Lítzelstain in the local Rhine Franconian dialect). </Li> <Li> Transitional between Central German and Upper German: <Ul> <Li> South Franconian in the northernmost part of Alsace around Wissembourg (Waisseburch in the local South Franconian dialect). </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Ul> <Li> South Franconian in the northernmost part of Alsace around Wissembourg (Waisseburch in the local South Franconian dialect). </Li> </Ul>

Why was the territory of alsace-lorraine so disputed by france and germany before world war i