𝗦𝗮𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗲𝘁 𝟭𝟵𝟮𝟬 - 𝟭𝟵𝟯𝟱
After World War I (1914 - 1918) a peace treaty was signed in the Palace of Versailles near Paris. In 1920 the Saar region came under the administration of the League of Nations. France received the right to exploit the Saarland coal mines. In 1935 a vote was to be held on whether the Saar region should remain politically active. Source: text information board
𝑫𝒆𝒖𝒕𝒔𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝑹𝒆𝒊𝒄𝒉 (𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒖ß𝒆𝒏
The new status of the Saar came into force in 1920. Boundary markers were erected and customs houses built on either side of the border. On February 25, 1920, a government commission under the French Victor Rault took office in Geneva on behalf of the League of Nations, as a result of the "Versailles Treaty" of 1918. Until January 10, 1925, the free movement of goods between the Saar region and the German Reich was regulated within the framework of a transitional period . From this day the smuggling period begins. At all border crossings, facts had been created with the construction of customs houses, which should now also be implemented politically. On January 13, 1935, the majority of the inhabitants of the Saar region voted for incorporation into the German Reich. On February 18, 1935, the customs barriers were removed. Source: text information board
𝑮𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒛𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒍𝒂𝒖𝒇
Webs and knitwear, silk stockings, razor blades, scissors, bicycles, cattle, pigs and groceries were smuggled from the German Reich to the Saar region.
In return, tobacco and cigarettes (Red Foxes), chewing tobacco (St. Wendeler Rolles), pipe tobacco, coffee and sweets were "exported" from the Saar region. It was easy to control regular border traffic with the newly created infrastructure of the customs stations. It was confusing on the other hand, the control of the "green border". Added to this was a strong price differential for certain goods on both sides of the border and the restrictions and controls by French customs officials, which were perceived as unjust. Source: text information board