Sarre (Land)

See also: the Saar

The the Saar ( German Saarland in ) is one of the German Länder composing the Germany. Capital: Saarbrucken.

Population: 1,1 million
Surface: 2.570 km ²

It is bordered by the Luxembourg, the the Rhineland-Palatinat ( Rheinland-Pfalz ) and the Lorraine. These four entities are associated besides, with the Walloon region and the communities French-speaking person and German-speaking of Belgium, within the “Great Area”, also called “Saar-Lor-Lux”, in order to support the transborder co-operation.

History

The Saar is one of the rare areas of Germany to have belonged to the Roman Empire, as the many villas found on its territory testify some. It undoubtedly profited from the proximity of the imperial residence of Trier ( Trier ), today in the Rhineland-Palatinat. The existence of Saarbrucken is attested for the first time into 999, date on which the emperor Otton III makes gift of the castle of Sarrabrucca to his nephew Adalbéron II, bishop of Metz.

With the the Middle Ages, the territory is parcelled out in small seigniories, of which most important are those of the princes voters archbishops of Trier, of the counts (then princes) of Nassau-Saarbrucken, those of the counts (then dukes) of Palatinat-Two-Bridges and those of the dukes of Lorraine. At the 17th century, the Guerre Thirty Year old devastates the area. Under the reign of Louis XIV, France launches out in a policy of annexations and Vauban creates of all parts the strengthened city of Sarrelouis, which will remain French of 1680 to 1815.

At the 18th century, one starts to exploit in an intensive way what will make the richness of the modern Saar: the coal and the Iron ore. Economic development makes it possible to princes de Nassau to equip Saarbrucken with sumptuous monuments baroques, which had essentially with the architect Stengel. In October 1792, the revolutionary armies invade the principality. The the Saar form a French department of 1801 with 1815, with Trier for Prefecture. In 1815, following the Congress of Vienna then treated of Paris, the territory is removed in France and is divided between the Prussian province of the Rhine (Rhenish Prussia) and Bavarian Palatinat (Rhenish Bavaria).

After the First World War, the Traité of Versailles of 1919 grants to the France the property of the coal mines and place the Territoire of the Basin of the Saar under mandate of the Société of the Nations, until the plebiscite of the January 13rd 1935 which will release an enormous majority (90,8%) in favor of fastening in Germany.

At the beginning of the Second world war, the Saar is invaded by the French troops of the general Louis Faury, which try to come to assistance of their Polish allies: it is the Offensive of the Saar, but this occupation will be of short duration. Indeed, of divisions being quickly mobilized in the west, the French must fold up themselves behind the Ligne Maginot.

After the Second world war, the Saar is included in the Zone of French occupation. The first free elections of the municipal councils proceed on September 15th, 1946, the formation of political parties being authorized by the French military authorities. December 15th, 1947, the advisers adopt a constitution of the Saar. The area becomes of right a true State equipped with a clean sovereignty, but brought to approach the French interests. The independence of the territory is recognized within the international authorities. Thus FIFA allows the Saar, as an independent nation, to face in 1953 the national team of Germany within the framework of the qualifications for the Football world cup of 1954. In the same way, it takes part in the Olympic Games of summer of 1952. The special statute of the Saar allows other legal opportunities: thus since 1954 with Felsberg, the antennas of the broadcasting transmitter of Europe 1 (183 Khz) are drawn up on the heights of the village.

Within the framework of the discussions which accompany creation by the first European authorities, France and Germany divergent of opinion as for the future of the Saar. France wishes that the Saar, which profits from a regional government equipped with a political autonomy, remain nevertheless under the economic and military supervision French. Germany wishes on the contrary the end of the special statute of the Saar and its reincorporation within the news the Federal Republic of Germany.

These divergences lead to the Accords of Paris of October 23rd, 1954, which stipulate the end of the mode of occupation in West Germany and try to define the methods of a payment of the problem of the Saar. These agreements envisage to equip the Saar with a " statute européen" within the framework widened of the Western European Union, embryo of a future European federate nation. The Of the Saar ones are expressed again by referendum on October 23rd, 1955 and reject this new statute by 67,7% of the voices.

It is by the Accords of Luxembourg, signed by France and FRG on October 27th, 1956, that the political fastening of the Saar in the West Germany is ratified for on January 1st, 1957. These agreements make it possible to put an end to an old dispute within the Franco-German relations.

Big cities of the Saar

(sequence going down)

less big cities of the Saar

(max. 25.000 habbitans)

  • Bexbach

  • Blieskastel
  • Dillingen
  • Heusweiler
  • Püttlingen
  • Sulzbach/Saar

List Minister-Presidents of the Land of the Saar

(or equivalent titrates)

Subdivisions

The Saar is divided into 6 districts ( Landkreise ):

External bonds

  • Official site of the Land of the Saar

Simple: Saarland

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