Saar
Heute Volksabstimmung im Saargebiet Slogan Cancellation
Heute Volksabstimmung im Saargebiet Slogan Cancellation on postcard to Utrecht, Netherlands
Post card depicting Saarbrucken train station
Heute Volksabstimmung im Saargebiet Slogan Cancellation on postcard to Utrecht, Netherlands
Post card depicting the old bridge across the Saar River in Saarbrucken
Located on the French-German border southeast of Luxembourg, Saar is a center of mining and industry. After World War I it was placed under League of Nations administration with France getting control of its coal mines. In a plebiscite on January 13, 1935 over 90% of the population decided that the region should be reunified with Germany. This plebiscite was marked by an "VOLKSABSTIMMUNG 1935" overprint on sixteen Saar definitive stamps issued on November 1, 1934 and seven semi-postals issued on December 1, 1934. On the day of the referendum, a slogan cancellation reading "Heute Volksabstimmung im Saargebiet" ("Today Referendum in Saar Region") was used as can be seen on the post cards above.
"DEUTSCHE DIE SAAR" ("THE SAAR IS GERMAN") propaganda mark on cover dated
November 17, 1934 from Hermeskeil, Trier, Germany to Saarbrucken, Saar franked with
two 12 pfennig Saar PlebisciteCommemoratives issued by Germany on August 26, 1934.
After the plebiscite Saar resumed using German stamps until after World War II. In 1947 a French administration re-introduced separate issues for Saar. Separate issues under German administration continued from 1957 until 1959 when stamps of the Federal Republic of Germany were adopted.
The Pittsburgh Press article from December 14, 1934 discussing Saar and
the plebiscite scheduled for January 13, 1935 to determine the region's future.
Bibliography
"1935 Saar status referendum." Wikipedia. 22 Jan. 2019. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. Web. 18 Feb. 2018.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1935_Saar_status_referendum.
Miller, Guy V. "Saar Plebiscite To Decide Question A Thousand Battle Between Germany, France Left Unsettled."
The Pittsburgh Press. 14 Dec. 1934: 2. Print.
"Saar." Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue. Amos Publishing, 2015.
Direct comments, questions and corrections to:
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