On 10 January 1950, prior to Robert Schuman’s official visit to the Federal Republic of Germany, the European Directorate of the French Foreign Ministry sends a note to the French Foreign Minister on the Saar question, emphasising the particular attention paid by the German public to this issue.

In January 1951, in the journal Notre Europe, Johannes Hoffmann, Prime Minister of the Saar, outlines the historical background of the Saar and emphasises the economic and political role that the Saar region intends to play at European level.

In this note to Robert Schuman, French Foreign Minister, Jean Monnet sets out the terms for the participation of the Saar, which is economically attached to France, in the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

Exchange of letters between the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the Government of the French Republic regarding the Saar (18 April 1951).

On 1 February 1952, Robert Schuman, French Foreign Minister, sends a letter to Johannes Hoffmann, Prime Minister of the Saar, in which he confirms the details of the representation and defence of the Saar’s interests in the institutions of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

On 25 July 1952, the German Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer, in a radio interview, analyses the significance of the results obtained in Paris at the conclusion of the Conference of European Ministers of Foreign Affairs on the status of the Saar.

‘The Paris ‘52 post-Olympics: Unbelievable, unbelievable — putting the most difficult obstacle right at the start ...!’ In August 1952, the cartoonist for the German satirical magazine Der Tintenfisch portrays the Saar question as the first hurdle to be cleared by ‘runners’ Robert Schuman, French Foreign Minister, and Konrad Adenauer, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), on the hazardous route to a united Europe.

On 11 August 1952, in an article published in the daily newspaper La Libre Belgique, the Belgian Senator Paul Struye considers the repercussions that the Franco-German dispute over the territory of the Saar has for the progress of European unity.

In October 1952, the British cartoonist, David Low, illustrates the differences of opinion between Robert Schuman, French Foreign Minister, and Konrad Adenauer, German Chancellor, with regard to the political and economic future of the Saar.

In 1953, the Saarbrücken Chamber of Commerce and Industry delivers its opinion on the negotiations conducted with a view to the possible Europeanisation of the Saar.

On 20 May 1953, in Paris, Georges Bidault, French Foreign Minister, and Johannes Hoffmann, Prime Minister of the Saar, sign a series of conventions, in particular on economic relations between France and the Saar, the joint operation of the Saar mines, Franco-Saar courts, mutual legal assistance, fiscal and budgetary cooperation and mutual administrative assistance.

On 26 August 1953, the Dutch Socialist delegate, Marinus van der Goes van Naters, presents his report to the members of the Committee on General Affairs of the Council of Europe proposing that the Saar be made into a European territory.

On 31 August 1953, the Dutch Socialist Delegate, Marinus van der Goes van Naters, rapporteur to the Committee on General Affairs of the Council of Europe, tables a draft resolution aimed at making the Saar into a European territory.

‘The Saar problem is starting up again … Come on, kids, push hard, and we’ll get there!’ In December 1953, the German satirical magazine Der Tintenfisch takes an ironic look at the difficulties involved in the international settlement of the Saar question.

On 1 June 1954, the Belgian Socialist daily newspaper Le Peuple reviews the conduct of the debates on the European Statute for the Saar, as proposed by the Dutchman Marinus van der Goes van Naters, rapporteur for the General Affairs Committee of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe.

On 23 October 1954, in Paris, the French and West German Governments conclude an agreement under which the Saar is to be granted European status under the aegis of Western European Union (WEU).

On 25 October 1954, the Saar Socialist daily newspaper Saar-Volksstimme für Sozialismus und Demokratie emphasises the efforts of the French and West German Governments to reach an agreement on the future Statute of the Saar.

On 26 October 1954, the Dutch daily newspaper Het Vrije Volk outlines the nature of the difficulties faced by the West German and French authorities in arriving at an agreement on the economic and political status of the Saar.

In 1955, the Saar Chamber of Commerce analyses the effects on the regional economy of the Saar Statute, signed in Paris on 23 October 1954 by representatives of France and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG).

On 11 May 1955, in Paris, the Council of Western European Union (WEU) adopts a resolution on the organisation of the referendum on the Saar Statute.

Produced in 1957, this documentary film shows the political process which led to the return of the Saar to the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) as a result of the Paris Agreements of 23 October 1954 and then the referendum of 23 October 1955.

On 24 October 1955, the Dutch daily newspaper Het Parool analyses the consequences of the rejection by the voters in the Saar of the European Statute for the Saar as part of Western European Union (WEU), as provided for by the Paris Agreements of 23 October 1954, and considers the future of Franco-German relations.

On 26 October 1955, the Saar Socialist daily newspaper Saar-Volksstimme für Sozialismus und Demokratie outlines the political and international implications of the outcome of the referendum held on 23 October 1955 on the Statute of the Saar.

Produced in 1957, this documentary illustrates the day-to-day problems faced by the inhabitants of the Saar region under French political and economic administration between 1947 and 1957.