German Saar Plebiscite “Deutsch die Saar” Badge

Very nice  and heavy badge made in silvered Tombac. Measures 39mm tall. Marked on reverse GLASER & SOHN DRESDON.

On 13 January 1935, a plebiscite held in the territory at the end of the 15-year term, resulted in 90.7% of voters casting their ballot in favour of a return to Germany, and 0.4% voting for union with France. Others (8.9%) favoured the third option of a continued British–French occupation government. After political agitation and manoeuvring by Chancellor Adolf Hitler for the re-union of the Saarland with the German Reich (Rückgliederung des Saarlandes) it was reincorporated in 1935. Its area was not redivided among the Prussian Rhine Province and the Bavarian Palatinate, but united with the latter as the Gau of Saar-Palatinate (Saarpfalz). In 1942 it was renamed Westmark (Western March), as it was planned to be expanded to incorporate parts of German-occupied French Lorraine which, however, did not materialise.