Sunday, February 12, 2023

How Close Did We Come To Having The Saar 'Nation'?

 The Saarland is a German state....to the far west....bordering France.  

After WW II....it was a protected area and under France's control.  In the early 1950s, there was a discussion in France....to allow the Saar region to go independent....more or less to become like Luxembourg.

A vote was held in October 1955, with roughly 95-percent of the population showing up to vote.

By a two-to-one edge...the public voted to decline the independence angle.

Roughly a year after this....France agreed to do the Saarland exit and the rejoining to West Germany (occurring in January of 1956).  Two and a half years go by, and the West German D-mark is introduced into the Saarland....replacing the French Franc.

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