Produced in 1957, this documentary film demonstrates the economic significance of the Saar, particularly in the iron and steel industry, and how the region was exploited between 1919 and 1945, first by France and then by the Third Reich.

The Saar, linked economically to France until 31 December 1956, has rich potential for steel production.

Map showing industrial production sites in the Saar in 1947.

Observations by the Directorate of Public Works and Transport of the French zone of occupation on the re-establishment of the Saar network in 1947.

On 1 February 1952, Robert Schuman, French Foreign Minister, sends a letter to Johannes Hoffmann, Prime Minister of the Saar, in which he confirms the details of the representation and defence of the Saar’s interests in the institutions of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

During talks held on 12 December 1955, Antoine Pinay, French Foreign Minister, hands a note to Heinrich von Brentano, Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), in which he sets out the priorities of the French Government regarding the economic issues involved in the resolution of the Saar question.

In October 1956, the British journal Steel Review considers the implications of the canalisation of the Moselle and the advantages of such an undertaking for industry in the region and in neighbouring countries.

Table listing cast iron, raw and rolled steel output (in 1000 tonnes) for the Saar from 1945 to 1959.

Canalisation work on the Moselle. The construction site in the Trier area closes in 1961.

On 15 November 1957, the Saarland Economic Promotion Corporation publishes a promotional insert in the Bulletin of the Press and Information Office of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) presenting the Saar as an ideal location for industrial development.

Produced in 1957, this documentary illustrates the day-to-day problems faced by the inhabitants of the Saar region under French political and economic administration between 1947 and 1957.

In 1947, French customs officers put up a customs sign at the crossroads where the roads to Saarbrücken and Zweibrücken meet, marking the economic border between the Saar and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG).

Under French political and economic guardianship from 1945 to 1957, inhabitants of the Saar watch the French occupying forces as they march through the streets of Saarbrücken.

A group of customs officers on duty at a border checkpoint between the Saar and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG).

On 19 October 1947, the Frenchman Gilbert Grandval, Military Governor of the Saar from 1945 to 1948, gives the opening address at the first session of the Saar Parliament.

Johannes Hoffmann, Prime Minister of the Saar from 1947 to 1955.

On 4 February 1950, in anticipation of the opening in Paris of diplomatic talks on the Saar between France and Germany, the Saar’s Communist periodical Neue Zeit considers the political and economic future of the Saar.

On 3 March 1950, in Paris, France and the Saar sign 12 conventions on the special status of the Saar which concern, in particular, the application of the economic union between France and the Saar, the operation of railways and mines in the Saar, the establishment of nationals from the two countries and the exercise of their professional activities, the supervision of insurance companies in the Saar, pharmaceutical regulations, inland waterway transport, mutual legal assistance, units and measuring instruments and the conditions for Franco-Saar road transport operations.

On 4 March 1950, the front page of the periodical Saar-Volksstimme, mouthpiece of the Social Democratic Party of the Saar (SPS), comments on the signing, the previous day in Paris, by France and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), of the conventions on the special status of the Saar.

Against the background of the signature of the Franco-Saar conventions by France and the Saar on 3 March 1950 in Paris, the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung examines the origins of the difficult question of the Saar and describes the main measures being considered by the German Government with a view to resolving the issue.

On 6 March 1950, commenting on the signing of the Franco-Saar conventions on 3 March in Paris, the German daily newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung sets out the political and economic issues surrounding the settlement of the Saar question.

On 6 March 1950, the regional daily newspaper Saabrüucker Zeitung gives a positive assessment of the Paris negotiations on the agreements between France and the Saar and considers the implications of these agreements for the Saar.

‘There were two child kings — but unfortunately one took down the bridge that was supposed to lead to the peace treaty!' On 7 March 1950, commenting on the signing of the Franco-Saar Conventions on 3 March in Paris, German cartoonist Peter Leger criticises French policy regarding the Saar and expresses concern for the future of Franco-German rapprochement. From left to right, Robert Schuman, French Foreign Minister, and Johannes Hoffman, Saar Prime Minister.

‘The abduction of the Saar — “You’ll get it back in 50 years.”’ On 7 March 1950, commenting on the signing of the Franco-Saar conventions, the Rheinische Zeitung illustrates the consequences of these agreements for the Saar territory and emphasises the strong emotions that they are evoking in the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG). Although these agreements confer a greater degree of autonomy on the Saar Government, they hand the responsibility for operating the Saar’s mines to France for the next 50 years. From left to right: Robert Schuman, French Foreign Minister, and Federal Chancellor Konrad Adenauer.

On 13 March 1950, Marinus van der Goes van Naters, Netherlands Delegate to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, forwards to Hendrik Oosterhuis, President of the Netherlands Trade Union Federation, a letter in which he analyses the most recent agreements concluded between France and the Saar region concerning the accession of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the Saar to the Council of Europe.

On 1 April 1950, Franz Singer, Minister for Economic Affairs of the Saar, publishes an article in the CVP-Rundschau, the newspaper of the Christian People’s Party of the Saar, in which he analyses the implications of the agreements, signed on 3 March 1950, between France and the Saar.

On 9 February 1952, Johannes Hoffman, Prime Minister of the Saar (left), and Georges Bidault, French Foreign Minister (right), meet at the French Foreign Office to consider the Franco-Saar problem.

In August 1952, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs draws up a memorandum which sets out why it is in the interest of both France and the Saar to maintain their economic and monetary union.

‘Negotiations on the conventions — Erwin Müller: “What — is that all you’re bringing me compared with what’s written on the menu!?!”’ In March 1953, the Saar satirical magazine Der Tintenfisch illustrates the astonishment of Erwin Müller, Saar Minister for Justice, at the disappointing results of the negotiations between France and the Saar in the following fields: economic relations, the joint operation of the Saar’s mines, Franco-Saar courts, mutual legal assistance, fiscal and budgetary cooperation and mutual administrative assistance.

On 16 May 1953, the regional daily newspaper Saarbrücker Zeitung expresses its satisfaction with regard to the progress of negotiations on the conclusion of new agreements between France and Germany on the Saar.

On 20 May 1953, in Paris, Georges Bidault, French Foreign Minister, and Johannes Hoffmann, Prime Minister of the Saar, sign a series of conventions, in particular on economic relations between France and the Saar, the joint operation of the Saar mines, Franco-Saar courts, mutual legal assistance, fiscal and budgetary cooperation and mutual administrative assistance.

On 15 September 1949, the German magazine Die Gegenwart speculates on the political future of the territory of the Saar and outlines the discussions held between France and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) on this subject.

On 21 September 1949, the Dutch journal Internationale Spectator comments on the economic and political situation of the Saar and on its implications for France and the fledgling Federal Republic of Germany (FRG).

On 17 January 1950, the Dutch daily newspaper Het Vrije Volk reports on the outcome of the meeting, held two days earlier in Bonn, between Robert Schuman, French Foreign Minister, and Konrad Adenauer, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), on the Saar question.

‘Exchange of words … Both together: “Hands off, the Saar is mine!”’ On 21 January 1950, Opland, Dutch cartoonist, illustrates the differences of opinion which pit Konrad Adenauer, German Chancellor (left), and Robert Schuman, French Foreign Minister (right), against each other on the political and economic future of the Saar.

In December 1950, in the journal Notre Europe, Heinz Braun, Justice Minister of the Saar Government and Delegate to the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe, makes a case for the Saar's European role.

In January 1951, in the journal Notre Europe, Johannes Hoffmann, Prime Minister of the Saar, outlines the historical background of the Saar and emphasises the economic and political role that the Saar region intends to play at European level.

In this note to Robert Schuman, French Foreign Minister, Jean Monnet sets out the terms for the participation of the Saar, which is economically attached to France, in the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

Exchange of letters between the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the Government of the French Republic regarding the Saar (18 April 1951).

On 11 July 1951, the Dutch journal Internationale Spectator speculates on the political future of the Saar territory, which remains economically attached to France.

‘Frigidity on the wedding night.’ In February 1952, Ernst Maria Lang, German cartoonist, shows that settling the issue of the Saar is a source of friction between France and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG).

On 26 April 1952, the Dutch daily newspaper Het Parool analyses the state of Franco-German relations in the light of the Saar question.

On 25 July 1952, the German Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer, in a radio interview, analyses the significance of the results obtained in Paris at the conclusion of the Conference of European Ministers of Foreign Affairs on the status of the Saar.

On 26 July 1952, the Dutch daily newspaper Het Vrije Volk considers the position of the French leaders on the Europeanisation of the Saar.

On 11 August 1952, in an article published in the daily newspaper La Libre Belgique, the Belgian Senator Paul Struye considers the repercussions that the Franco-German dispute over the territory of the Saar has for the progress of European unity.

In October 1952, the British cartoonist, David Low, illustrates the differences of opinion between Robert Schuman, French Foreign Minister, and Konrad Adenauer, German Chancellor, with regard to the political and economic future of the Saar.

On 27 February 1955, Heinrich von Brentano, President of the Parliamentary Party of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and future German Foreign Minister, recalls the conference held in Paris on Germany and the future Saar Statute.

‘Hard Saar-fruit.’ In March 1952, German cartoonist Ernst Maria Lang takes an ironic look at the difficulties faced by Federal Chancellor Konrad Adenauer and French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman to resolve the Saar question. The Europeanisation of the Saar territory could be a solution to the problem.

‘Commentary on the situation! Marianne: “But Michel, the boy already has too much experience! Let’s give him his independence!” Michel: “Yes, Marianne, you are right! If we accept his wish to join the first Europe House, we will avoid a great deal of bother in the future.”’ On 1 August 1952, the journal CVP-Rundschau, mouthpiece of the Saar Christian People’s Party, illustrates in its own inimitable fashion the negotiations under way between France and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) on the political future of the Saar territory.

On 26 August 1953, the Dutch Socialist delegate, Marinus van der Goes van Naters, presents his report to the members of the Committee on General Affairs of the Council of Europe proposing that the Saar be made into a European territory.

On 31 August 1953, the Dutch Socialist Delegate, Marinus van der Goes van Naters, rapporteur to the Committee on General Affairs of the Council of Europe, tables a draft resolution aimed at making the Saar into a European territory.

In August 1953, the Dutch Socialist delegate, Marinus van der Goes van Naters, rapporteur for the General Affairs Committee of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe, submits his report on the Europeanisation of the Saar territory.

On 14 October 1953, the magazine CVP-Rundschau, the official publication of the Saar Christian People’s Party (CVP), comments on the plan of Dutch delegate Marinus van der Goes van Naters, rapporteur for the General Affairs Committee of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe, which aims to make the Saar a European territory.

On 7 November 1953, the Saar Social Democratic Party (SPS) adopts a resolution on the question of the possible Europeanisation of the Saar.

In 1953, the Saarbrücken Chamber of Commerce and Industry delivers its opinion on the negotiations conducted with a view to the possible Europeanisation of the Saar.

In 1953, the Saar section of the European Movement publishes a booklet explaining and illustrating the issue of the Europeanisation of the Saarland.

‘The Saar problem is starting up again … Come on, kids, push hard, and we’ll get there!’ In December 1953, the German satirical magazine Der Tintenfisch takes an ironic look at the difficulties involved in the international settlement of the Saar question.

On 1 June 1954, the French daily newspaper Combat voices its concerns at some of the objectives of the plan drawn up by the Netherlands Delegate, Marinus van der Goes van Naters, rapporteur for the General Affairs Committee of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe, which seeks to make the Saar into a European territory.

On 1 June 1954, the Belgian Socialist daily newspaper Le Peuple reviews the conduct of the debates on the European Statute for the Saar, as proposed by the Dutchman Marinus van der Goes van Naters, rapporteur for the General Affairs Committee of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe.

On 1 August 1955, the Saar Section of the pro-European movement Europa-Union shows its support for the proposed Europeanisation of the territory of the Saar on a news-stand near Saarbrücken station.

'The Paris '52 Olympic Games: unbelievable, unbelievable - putting the most difficult obstacle right at the start ...!' The Saar issue is presented as the first hurdle to be jumped by the 'runners' (Robert Schuman and Konrad Adenauer) on the hazardous track to a united Europe.

On 23 October 1954, in Paris, the French and West German Governments conclude an agreement under which the Saar is to be granted European status under the aegis of Western European Union (WEU).

On 23 October 1954, Johannes Hoffmann, Prime Minister of the Saar, delivers an address in which he welcomes the signing, in Paris, of the agreement concluded between the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and France on the future economic and political status of the Saar.

On 23 October 1954, the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), France, the United Kingdom and the United States sign the Paris Agreements which provide, in particular, for the settlement of the Saar question by means of a convention between France and Germany. From left to right: Pierre Mendès France, Konrad Adenauer, Anthony Eden and John Foster Dulles.

On 25 October 1954, the regional daily newspaper Saarbrücker Zeitung welcomes the agreement concluded between the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and France on the future economic and political status of the Saar.

On 25 October 1954, the Saar Socialist daily newspaper Saar-Volksstimme für Sozialismus und Demokratie emphasises the efforts of the French and West German Governments to reach an agreement on the future Statute of the Saar.

On 26 October 1954, the Saar Communist Party fiercely criticises the agreement, signed three days earlier, between the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and France on the economic and political status of the Saar.

On 26 October 1954, the Dutch daily newspaper Het Vrije Volk outlines the nature of the difficulties faced by the West German and French authorities in arriving at an agreement on the economic and political status of the Saar.

In December 1954, the French monthly publication Reconstruction reflects on the origins of the Saar question and considers the scope of the Paris Agreements concluded between the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and France on 23 October 1954.

In 1955, the Saar Chamber of Commerce analyses the effects on the regional economy of the Saar Statute, signed in Paris on 23 October 1954 by representatives of France and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG).

On 11 May 1955, in Paris, the Council of Western European Union (WEU) adopts a resolution on the organisation of the referendum on the Saar Statute.

On 28 July 1955, Heinrich Schneider, first President of the Democratic Party of the Saar (DPS), publishes an article in the Deutsche Saar, the newspaper of the DPS, in which he condemns the threats posed by the future Statute of the Saar.

On 11 August 1955, the regional periodical CVP-Rundschau, mouthpiece of the Saar Christian People’s Party (CVP), calls on voters in the Saar to vote ‘Yes’ in the referendum to be held on 23 October 1955 on the future Saar Statute.

On 15 September 1955, with a view to the referendum scheduled for 23 October on the future Statute of the Saar, the CVP-Rundschau, newspaper of the Christian People’s Party of the Saar, analyses the issues at stake in the forthcoming plebiscite.

‘And when I’m inside, the trap closes — NO — NO!’ On 4 October 1955, the periodical Deutsche Saar, mouthpiece of the Democratic Party of the Saar (DPS), publishes a cartoon illustrating the dangers of the future Saar Statute.

On 13 October 1955, the Saar Christian People’s Party (CVP) calls on citizens to vote ‘Yes’ in the referendum on the Saar Statute to be held on 23 October.

‘The problem child. Marianne always used to swallow everything!’ On 13 August 1955, the periodical Deutsche Saar, mouthpiece of the Democratic Party of the Saar (DPS), publishes a cartoon criticising the action taken by France and Johannes Hoffman, Minister-President of the Saar, who claim to be the main supporters of the new Saar Statute.

On 11 May 1955, in Paris, the Council of Western European Union (WEU) adopts a resolution on the holding of a referendum on the Saar Statute. In October 1955, several posters call on Saar citizens to vote for or against this Statute.

On 11 May 1955, the Council of Western European Union (WEU) establishes a supervisory commission for the referendum on the Saar Statute. In October 1955, several posters displayed in the city of Saarbrücken call on voters to reject or accept the Statute.

German poster from 1955 against French annexation of the Saar: ‘Auf die Saar verzichten? Niemals!’ [‘Give up the Saar? Never!’]

In October 1955, the Democratic Party of the Saar (DPS) publishes a series of posters in the Deutsche Saar calling on voters to vote ‘No’ in the referendum held on 23 October 1955 on the future Saar Statute.

In October 1955, the Saar Section of the European Movement makes use of the regional press to encourage voters to vote ‘Yes’ in the referendum held on 23 October on the future Saar Statute.

From August to October 1955, the Saar Christian People’s Party (CVP) publishes a series of posters in the regional periodical CVP-Rundschau calling on voters in the Saar to vote ‘Yes’ in the referendum held on 23 October 1955 on the future Saar Statute.

With a view to the referendum to be held on 23 October 1955 on the future Saar Statute, the regional periodical Deutsche Saar, mouthpiece of the Democratic Party of the Saar (DPS), calls on its readers to reject the European Statute proposed to voters.

As the referendum on the future Saar Statute is held on 23 October 1955, the periodical Neue Zeit, mouthpiece of the Saar Communist Party, calls on its readers to vote ‘No’.

Produced in 1957, this documentary film shows the political process which led to the return of the Saar to the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) as a result of the Paris Agreements of 23 October 1954 and then the referendum of 23 October 1955.

In 1955, the Saarland Christian People’s Party (CVP) publishes posters calling on citizens to vote ‘yes’ in the referendum to be held on 23 October 1955 on the European status of the Saar.

In 1955, the Social Democratic Party of the Saar (SPS) publishes a series of posters calling on voters to vote in favour of a European Statute for the Saar.

In 1955, the Democratic Party of the Saar (DPS) publishes posters calling on the Saar people to vote ‘No’ in the referendum on the European Statute of the Saar due to be held on 23 October 1955.

In 1955, the Saar Communist Party (KP-Saar) publishes a series of posters calling on voters in the Saar to vote ‘No’ in the referendum due to be held on 23 October 1955 on a European Statute for the Saar.

Copy of the ballot paper used during the referendum held on 23 October 1955 on the European Saar Statute, proposing the establishment of an independent Saarland under the auspices of Western European Union (WEU).

On 23 October 1955, in Saarbrücken, the first ballot papers in the referendum on the European Statute of the Saar are counted.

On 24 October 1955, at around 1 a.m., the leaders of the Saar political parties CDU (Christian Democratic Union), DPS (Democratic Party of the Saar) and DSP (German Social Democratic Party) — which form the ‘Deutscher Heimatbund’ (German Fatherland Union) — meet at the Landtag in Saarbrücken to comment on the initial results of the referendum on the European Statute of the Saar. On the platform, from left to right: Hubert Ney (CDU), Kurt Conrad (DSP), Heinrich Scheider (DPS) and Richard Becker (honorary leader of the DPS).

The Paris Accords of 23 October 1954 provided, in particular, for a European statute for the Saar under the auspices of the Western European Union (WEU). However, at a referendum held on 23 October 1955, the people of the Saar voted against this European statute, and instead opted for the return of the Saar to the Federal Republic of Germany from 1 January 1957.

On 24 October 1955, the Dutch daily newspaper Het Parool analyses the consequences of the rejection by the voters in the Saar of the European Statute for the Saar as part of Western European Union (WEU), as provided for by the Paris Agreements of 23 October 1954, and considers the future of Franco-German relations.

On 25 October 1955, the German daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung comments on the outcome of the referendum on the Saar Statute held on 23 October 1955 and analyses the repercussions of the vote on Franco–German relations.

On 25 October 1955, following the result of the referendum on the Saar Statute, the German daily newspaper Die Welt analyses the implications of returning the Saar to Germany and recalls the importance of maintaining good relations between the Federal Republic of Germany and France.

On 26 October 1955, the Saar Socialist daily newspaper Saar-Volksstimme für Sozialismus und Demokratie outlines the political and international implications of the outcome of the referendum held on 23 October 1955 on the Statute of the Saar.

On 4 June 1956, the German Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer, and the French Prime Minister, Guy Mollet, meet in Luxembourg with a view to the drafting of the Franco–German Treaty on the Saar, which will be signed in Luxembourg City on 27 October 1956.

On 13 September 1956, in a Saarbrücken radio broadcast, the German State Secretary, Walter Hallstein, gives an upbeat evaluation of negotiations between France and Germany on financial and economic issues relating to the Saar Statute.

Produced in 1957, this documentary film illustrates how the Saar question was definitively resolved on 27 October 1956 by the signing, in Luxembourg, of the Franco-German Treaty which established the terms for the reintegration of this region in the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG). The film also shows the address given to the Bundestag by Heinrich von Brentano, Foreign Minister of the FRG, on the implications of the Treaty.

On 27 October 1956, in Luxembourg, Christian Pineau, French Foreign Minister, and Heinrich von Brentano, Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) sign the Saar Treaty which, amongst other things, lays down the terms for the return of the Saar to Germany.

On 27 October 1956, Christian Pineau and Heinrich von Brentano, French and German Foreign Ministers respectively, sign the agreements in Luxembourg which definitively resolve the Saar question. Heinrich von Brentano then makes a statement.

On 27 October 1956, in Luxembourg, Christian Pineau, French Foreign Minister, and his German counterpart, Heinrich von Brentano, sign the agreements which definitively resolve the Saar question and define the terms for the return of the Saar to the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG).

The Saar issue is definitely resolved on 27 October 1956 in Luxembourg when Christian Pineau, French Foreign Minister, and his German counterpart, Heinrich von Brentano, sign the Treaty laying down the terms for the return of the Saar to the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG).

Title page of the Saar Treaty, signed on 27 October 1956 in Luxembourg by France and the Federal Republic of Germany.

The Franco-German Treaty signed on 27 October 1956 in Luxembourg settles the Saar question and provides for the political reintegration of the territory into the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) on 1 January 1957.

On 29 November 1956, Heinrich von Brentano, Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), outlines to the Bundestag the implications of the Treaty signed on 27 October 1956 in Luxembourg by France and Germany in order to resolve definitively the Saar question.

Shortly after the signing, on 27 October 1956 in Luxembourg, of the Franco-German Treaty on the Saar, Otto Lenz, Christian Democratic Union (CDU) MP and Head of the Saar Committee in the Bundestag, emphasises the hope that this territorial reintegration represents for the millions of Germans still living under foreign rule.

On 1 January 1957, during the celebrations to mark the return of the Saar to the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), the German Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer, gives an address in which he welcomes the peaceful manner in which the Saar question has been resolved.

On 1 January 1957, Hubert Ney, Prime Minister of the Saar, welcomes the political return of the Saar to the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and calls for the peaceful reunification of Germany.

On 1 January 1957, the Saar is returned to the Federal Republic of Germany. On this occasion, the Saar Prime Minister, Hubert Ney, flies the flags of the Saar and of Germany at the Chancellery in Saarbrücken.

Produced in 1957, this documentary film shows the celebrations surrounding the return of the Saar to the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) on 1 January 1957. The film also includes an extract from the address given by the German Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer, who welcomes the peaceful circumstances that allowed the Saar question to be resolved and who expresses his hopes as to the future reintegration of the Eastern territories in the FRG.

On 29 March 1960, this former border post between the Saar and Germany on the N 51 road near Freudenberg is destroyed.