France simply keeps Saarland after 1957 and integrates it into its territory

This was suggested OTL by French politicans.
What if France witheld the popular election and instead of joining the Federal Republic od Germany the Saarland becomes French territory. Woul need the support of WALLIES, though.

edit: her territory ?
 
I can't imagine West Germany being too happy about it, but with the Suez mess happening just the previous year, I don't think the Western Allies would make much of a stink about it. At most, I can see France temporarily suspended from NATO. And even that might give the Soviet Union too much of an opening in Central Europe.
 
I read this as Sealand at first. :p


But it could definitely happen without too much fuss or coverage. The only long-term effects would probably be a bit of a stronger France-Germany rivalry. And, honestly, this sort of rivalry could be solved by a football rivalry. :D
 

Perkeo

Banned
Adenauer would not mind,

Yes he would. The CDU recognized the Polish border as late as 1990, and even then reluctantly

but the population would strongly oppose French rule.
I don't see it working out without poisoning the Franco-German relations.

And depending on what France does to suppress such opposition, it could altogether prevent the OTL end of the French-German rivalry. Bad for both sides. Plus Saarland has been depending on federal subsidies ever since, so not really a good investment.

The allies had a right to want revenge, but not giving in to that desire turned out to be a smart move.
 
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