Saar Plebiscite Territory
Plebiscite Issues of 1934
For the predominately German people of the Saar Plebiscite Territory, 1934 was a year of great excitement. It was also a banner year for postage stamp re-issues!
After almost 16 years of French occupation, the residents
of the Saargebiet were FINALLY going be allowed to vote in a referendum
to determine which nation, either Germany or France, that their state would join.
In November 1934, the current 50 C. magenta definitive stamp was re-valued to 40 C., as shown above (Mi. #178, Sc. #136).
On November 1, 1934, all the current definitive
postage stamp denominations, as well as the 1925 10 Fr. Madonna of
Blieskastel stamp, were re-issued with the overprint "VOLKSABSTIMMUNG / 1935", or "POPULAR VOTE (PLEBISCITE) / 1935", in various colors. All the re-issued stamps are shown above (Mi. #179-94, Sc. #139-54).
These overprinted stamps were issued to promote the referendum to be held in January 1935.
The four current Saargebiet airmail stamps shown above (Mi. #195-99, Sc. #C5-8) were also overprinted to promote the upcoming plebiscite.
On December 1, 1934, the Saargebiet charity stamp issue of 1934 was also overprinted (Mi. #199-205, Sc. #B54-60) to promote the upcoming plebiscite.
The
plebiscite was held on January 13, 1935. Over 98% of the
electorate participated in the referendum, and the approximate results
were as follows:
- Remain a League of Nations Protectorate - about 08.86%
- Become a state of France - about 00.41%
- Become a state of Germany - about 90.73%
On
January 17, 1935, the vote was approved by the League of Nations, and
on March 1, 1935, the Saar Plebiscite Territory became a state of the German Third Reich.
Saar
postage stamps continued to be valid for use through the end of
February 1935. After March 1, 1935, the postage stamps of Saargebiet
were replaced by the postage stamp issues of the German Third Reich.
The set of four stamps shown above (Mi. #565-68, Sc. #448-51) was issued by the German Third Reich on January 16, 1935, a
few days after the plebiscite, to celebrate the return of the Saar
to Germany.
The stamps have an allegorical depiction of
"Saar" (a child) returning to the arms of "Mother Germany".
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Saar Plebiscite Territory - Plebiscite Issues of 1934
