The Saar Plebiscite - Conflict and Tension

Question 1

what was the Saar plebiscite?

Answer 1

• the industrial area around the Saar was removed from Germany by the TofV and put under control of the League of Nations - France was allowed access to the Saar’s coal mines
• a plebiscite (vote) among the German people was to be held after 15 years to decide whether it should be returned to Germany
• an international force of over 3,000 soldiers from the UK, Netherlands, Italy and Sweden patrolled the Saar area to ensure that the vote was conducted fairly
• in January 1935, 90% of the people voted in favour of returning to Germany, and the Saarland was officially reunited with Germany in March of that year

Question 2

significance of the Saar plebiscite?

Answer 2

• Hitler gained the coal resources for Germany, and the victory in a legal vote was useful for his propaganda