The Saar area in the first world war Life behind the lines The Saar area was during the whole first world war, area of base and marching through for the troops. Everywhere were created military hospitals. Right at the beginning the civil railroad traffic broke down and stayed very limited for the whole time of the war. One of the consequences : Because of the lack of coke and ore, the iron and steel works stopped temporarily to function. The coal mining diminished strongly. Many men were drafted - more than in the rest of Germany. It was tried to replace them with older and younger workers. In an extent never seen before, women had also to accomplish heavy work. Moreover : thousands of Russian War prisoners. Since the summer of 1915, the whole industrial area was the objective of air attacks. The number of casualties and the damages stayed low but the war showed a wholly new face. The supply situation went steady from bad to worse. Already in August 1914, high prices were fixed. In the spring of 1915 the bread became rationed, followed by other foodstuffs. The winter 1916/17 was for the population a "Hunger winter". The "Home front" proved its readiness for sacrifice and contribution. The schoolchildren were constantly called upon to collect things, like stinging nettles. After the cease-fire on 11th November 1918, French troops followed the retreating German soldiers and occupied the Saar area. They stopped immediately the activity of the Workers- and Soldiers Counsels. The Saar area under the authority of the Society of Nations. Solution of time. In the time of the occupation, showed up time and again the tension between French Military and the population. Thus there were strikes in the spring and the autumn of 1919. On 10th January 1920 the treaty of Versailles came into force. The Saar rules contained in the treaty were a compromise between the annexation wishes of France and the right to self determination of the peoples promoted by the US president Wilson. - A governmental commission of the Society of Nations takes over the administration of the Prussian-Bavarian industrial area on the Saar, including the areas of workers houses. - After 15 years, the population should decide over the future belonging of the area. - As reparation France receives the propriety of the Saar mines. The international government commission (Reko) of 5 people began its work on 26th February 1920. Until 1926 its president was the French Rault. Through him France determined the politic in the Saar. The relationship between government and population stayed tense. A real parliament representation was lacking. The Land Council instituted in 1922 had only a counsel function. But it became a forum for Saarlands interests. As proprietor of the Saar mines, France was the most powerful employer on the Saar. Through this it got several possibilities of economic and cultural influence : Introduction of the Franc on 1st June 1923 as general payment means. The "Mines domaniales" organised for the children of their employees their own schools (Domanial schools), in which was teached also the French language. Important manifestations of national belonging were : - the "Hundred-Days-Strike" of the miners in 1923 - The "Rhineland Millenary feast" in 1925, which was mostly organised and executed by the associations.