In 1946, Pathé Journal (Paris) describes the economic and military importance of the extremely prosperous industrial area of the Ruhr. The strategic importance of this region leads the United States, the United Kingdom, the Benelux countries and France to set up an International Authority for the Ruhr (IAR) in 1949 to monitor the production and sale of steel, coal and coke from the region.

‘European duet. On a slightly out-of-tune piano'. From 13 to 15 January 1950, Robert Schuman, French Foreign Minister, visits the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) to meet Federal Chancellor Konrad Adenauer. Despite the differing views of the two men on the settlement of the Saar question, German cartoonist Wand emphasises both the historic nature of this meeting and the commitment of the two men to European unity.