Saarland: Why the Saar Statute of 1955 shaped history

Saarland: Why the Saar Statute of 1955 shaped history

Hardly any chapter in German-French history is as complex as that of Saarland. A thought experiment about the hypothetical development of the Saarland if the population had voted for the Saar Statute in the 1955 referendum raises exciting questions. An article in the Saarbrücker Zeitung, for example, sparks speculation as to whether Saarland could be in a similar position to Luxembourg today if it had become an independently administered region instead of being annexed by the Federal Republic of Germany. But this idea brings with it some difficulties.

Opponents of this assumption put forward several arguments. An important one is that other countries would also have made claims on EU institutions. Furthermore, as is well known, Luxembourg had more scope for development than the industrial Saarland. If Saarland had emerged as an independent entity, there would have been customs and currency borders that would have separated it from the German economic miracle.

The 1955 referendum and its consequences

A look back shows that the referendum on the Saar statute took place on October 23, 1955 and sheds light on the political mood at the time. The voters clearly decided against the statute: 423,434 votes (67.71%) voted “no”, while only 201,973 votes (32.29%) voted for adoption. Overall, a voter turnout of 96.73% was achieved - a clear sign of the population's high level of political interest in this crucial phase of history. The decision was interpreted as a strong signal that reunification with West Germany was the preferred path for the majority of Saarlanders.

The negative decision was followed just one year later by the Saar Treaty, which was signed on October 27, 1956. This documentation set the framework within which Saarland was incorporated into the Federal Republic of Germany as the 10th federal state on January 1, 1957. The entire process was straightforward and purposeful, considering how long the region had been under the shadow of French power politics.

An artificial separation

Up to this point, the population of Saarland had belonged to Bavaria and Prussia for over 110 years. Historical events and the East-West conflict led to the separation of the area from Germany and thus to the creation of a so-called “artificial” political unity in Paris. Numerous contemporary witnesses report that the insecurities of the Federal Republic in the 1950s and the willingness of politicians in Bonn and Saarbrücken to consolidate this separation took far-reaching historical peculiarities into account.

With the Saar Statute, Saarland would have become an independent entity, under a European administration, but at the same time would have remained in an economic union with France. However, this was not the fate that the majority of Saarlanders wanted. They have decided that they would rather be part of the Federal Republic of Germany than remain in demanding and insecure conditions.

It can currently be said that European unification, which was aimed at with the Saar Statute, was not affected by this referendum. Rather, the clear will of the population to prosper together with Germany is a fundamental part of the history of the Saarland. A look at today's Saarland shows that it is not only part of Germany, but now also an important part of the EU.

Reflecting on the past makes it clear that Saarland, like many other regions in Europe, has a complex history that is characterized by the striving for self-determination and belonging. When we turn to Saarland today, we realize that history not only influences the present from the past, but also shows perspectives for the future.