Saar Treaty

Treaty of Luxembourg (also Saar Treaty, actually: Treaty between the Federal Republic of Germany and the French Republic for the settlement of the Saar question ) refers to an international treaty, with the gradual political and economic return of the Saar protectorate to Germany has been agreed. It was signed on 27 October 1956 by the foreign ministers of the two countries, Heinrich von Brentano and Christian Pineau, in Luxembourg.

The contract was negotiated in the aftermath of the referendum of 23 October 1955 in the Saarland had a clear majority, decided against the Saar Statute, which should make the Saarland to a European territory.

He allowed the political inclusion of the Saarland in the Federal Republic of Germany on 1 January 1957. Economically a transitional period was agreed, was due to expire the end of 1959 at the latest. Until then, the Saarland and France continue to put a customs and monetary union is - with the franc as legal tender.

The contract contained agreements on coal mining in Warndt area as well as on long-term coal supplies to France. At the same time signed the two foreign ministers and Joseph Bech, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, a further contract in which they are the canalisation of the Moselle between Koblenz and Thionville agreed as a major waterway - this was a request of France, since such an expansion, upgrading of roads Lorraine and the mining industry meant.

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On December 14, 1956, the Saarland parliament declared the accession in accordance with Article 23 of the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany, which became effective on 1 January 1957 - the Saarland was thus their tenth state.

However, the Saarland was first queen the customs union area. The French franc remained the sole means of payment and the boundaries of the no longer politically independent Saarland to Germany remained down by French Customs monitored customs borders. Legendary for this interim period to date is the " 15 -franc Heuß " in memory, the millions of issued stamp for a standard letter; from January 1, 1957 German Federal Post Office with a picture of the former Federal President, but cost 15 French francs (about 10 cents. ).

The economic transition period ended on 5 July 1959 from the Saar countries today - called "Day X" - according to the former terminology. At midnight, went to the borders of the Saarland to the Federal Republic of Germany the barriers high and down to France; the customs and monetary union with France was over. As of July 6, free trade with the Federal Republic of Germany and the German mark was now was the sole currency. Therefore, the "Day X", " actual " is valid in the Saarland popular opinion to this day as the day of the return of the Saar to Germany.