"It was a football game for the history books: On March 28, 1954, 53,000 spectators at Ludwigspark stadium in Saarbrucken watched Saarland battle West Germany to qualify for the Football World Cup, to be held in Switzerland. Saarland, today firmly established as one of Germany's 16 federal states, then had its own national football team. More than that: the population of about one million lived in their own country, with its own constitution, flag and currency, situated between Germany and France"
""It is its location on the border," historian Gabriele Clemens told DW. Saarland is in southwestern Germany, directly bordering France. "It was a bone of contention between German territories and France for a long time. Between 1800 and 1950, the people of Saarland changed their nationality 5 times," Clemens said. In 1920, following World War I(1914-1918), the region was placed under the administration of the League of Nations; therefore, it was under international control."
A 1954 World Cup qualifying match in Saarbrucken drew 53,000 spectators as Saarland faced West Germany while existing as a separate polity with its own constitution, flag and currency. The region’s border location made it contested between Germany and France, and its population changed nationality several times between 1800 and 1950. After World War I Saarland was administered by the League of Nations and France gained coal rights. In 1935 the population voted to rejoin Germany. After World War II France took control and Saarland became semi-autonomous under French influence from 1947, leading to a highly emotional 1955 referendum with divided loyalties.
Read at www.dw.com
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