Inter-Allied Rhineland High Commission

Referred to the Inter-Allied High Committee of the Rhineland, also known as Inter-Allied Rhineland Commission ( Irko ), was a after the end of World War I from 1920 existing in the Rhineland institution of the four allied occupying powers France, Belgium, USA and the UK. She acted in the occupied due to the Treaty of Versailles and the associated Rhineland Agreement areas of the Rhineland as chief administrative authority. Based on the Rhine bridgeheads three occupation zones were formed: A British Zone, based in Cologne, an American zone located in Koblenz and a Franco-Belgian zone, based in Mainz. Following the complete withdrawal of U.S. occupation forces in January 1923, the British left until the beginning of 1926 their first zone around Cologne. Until the evacuation of the end of August in 1929, the last occupied by British and Belgians second zone around Koblenz was.

The High Commission had its seat in the then Prefect of the Rhine Province in Koblenz and took on 10 January 1920 on their work. Among its members were in accordance with the Rhine land deal one representative each of the four occupying powers. President was represented in the Commission Paul Tirard, the France. The German interests to the Commission represented the so-called Reich Commissioner for the occupied bank of the Rhine, the German representatives of all affected countries belonged and which had been created in 1919 on the initiative of Prussia. The Commission could ordinances (regulations ) laid down that should ensure, above all, the safety and the maintenance of the occupation forces and the maintenance of public life. She was against the German authorities issue directives in the occupied territories, German laws and regulations had to be approved by the Commission. Violations of the instructions of the Commission were punishable.

Conference venue was until 1929 the present building of the higher regional court in Koblenz. The Commission insisted to the end of the occupation, her seat was still laid in November 1929 in a hotel in Wiesbaden. On June 28, 1930, the last meeting of the Irko took place. Two days later, with the object of the third zone of occupation the final evacuation of the occupied territories.