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Saarbeckengebiet (de) Le Territoire du Bassin de la Sarre (fr) The Territory of the Saar Basin Special territory ← 1920 – 1935 → Flag Capital Saarbrücken Political structure Special territory Commission Chairman  - 1920-1926 Victor Rault  - 1926-1927 George W. Stephens  - 1927-1932 Sir Ernest Collins Wilton  - 1932-1935 Sir Geoffrey Knox Historical era Interwar period  - Treaty of Versailles January 10, 1920  - Plebiscite January 13, 1935  - Disestablished March 1, 1935 Population  - 1933 est. 812,000  Currency Saar franc

The Territory of the Saar Basin (in French: Le Territoire du Bassin de la Sarre, in German: Saarbeckengebiet), also referred as the Saar or Saargebiet, was a territory governed by the League of Nations under the Treaty of Versailles^[1] for 15 years from 1920. Its population in 1933 was 812,000, and its capital was Saarbrücken.^[2] It corresponds to the modern German state of Saarland, but slightly smaller in area^[3]. After a plebiscite was held in 1935, it was restored to Germany.

According to Treaty of Versailles the highly industrialized Saarland was to be governed by the League of Nations for a period of 15 years, and its coalfields ceded to France. The Commission of Government, which represents the League of Nations, includes five people, and must consist at least one French and one native of Saar.^[4] At the end of that time a plebiscite was to determine the Saar's future status. It comprised portions of the Prussian Rhine Province and the Bavarian Palatinate of the Rhine. It had a currency, the Saar franc, and its own postage stamps during this period.

The League of Nations' control to the region was represented by the following Chairmen of the Commission of Government^[2]:

• Victor Rault, France (26 February 1920 - 18 March 1926)
• George Washington Stephens, Canada (18 March 1926 - 8 June 1927)
• Sir Ernest Colville Collins Wilton, United Kingdom (8 June 1927 - 1 April 1932)
• Sir Geoffrey George Knox, United Kingdom (1 April 1932 - 1 March 1935)

In 1933, a considerable number of anti-Nazi Germans fled to the Saar, as it was the only part of Germany left outside the Third Reich's control. As a result, anti-Nazi groups campaigned heavily for the Saarland to remain under control of League of Nations as long as Adolf Hitler ruled Germany. However, long-held sentiments against France remained entrenched, with very few sympathizing openly with France. When the 15-year-term was over, a plebiscite was held in the territory on 13 January 1935, with a voter participation of 98%. The result was a great majority of 90.73% of those voting that wished to join Germany, 8.86% wanted to retain status quo, wheeras a little as 0.40% wished to join France.

Germany in 1941. The reichsgau of Westmark, in its greatest extent, is shown in yellow.

On 17 January 1935, the territory's re-union with Germany was approved by the League Council. On March 1, the Nazi Germany took over the region, and appointed Josef Bürckel as Reichskommissar für die Rückgliederung des Saarlandes, "Imperial Commissioner for the re-union of Saarland".

Many former politicians and office holders of the Saargebiet were subject to suppression by the Nazis.

When re-incorporation was considered complete, the governor's style was changed again to Reichskommissar für das Saarland, "Imperial Commissioner of Saarland" on 17 June 1936. As the new Gau was extended to the Rhine, including the historic Palatinate, the region's name was changed again on 8 April 1940 to Saarpfalz, "Saar-Palatinate".

After the Battle of France, the re-annexed French département of Moselle was incorporated in the Reichsgau. The region's name was finalized on 11 March 1941 as Westmark, "Western March", with its governor styled as Reichsstatthalter in der Westmark, "Imperial Lieutenant of Western March". On 28 September 1944 Josef Bürckel committed suicide, and he was succeeded by Willi Stöhr, also a Nazi, until 21 March 1945.

1. ^ Article 45-50 with Annex, Treaty of Versailles
2. ^ ^{a b} Saarland in the page about Germany on WorldStatesmen.org
3. ^ The extent of the territory is specified in Article 48, Treaty of Versailles
4. ^ Paragraph 16-17, Chapter II, Annex to Article 45-50, Treaty of Versailles

• Saarland
• Saar, a protectorate under French control (1947-1956)
• Sarre, a département of France (1798-1814)
• Saar River
• Nazi Germany
• Free City of Danzig

• Saarland in the page about Germany on WorldStatesmen.org
• Part III - Political Clauses for Europe, Treaty of Versailles