| |||
| Capital (and largest city) |
Essen | ||
| Other cities | Dortmund, Essen, Duisburg and Bochum | ||
| Language official |
German | ||
| others | French (Administrative usage) | ||
| Religion main |
Lutheranism and Roman Catholic | ||
| others | Judaism | ||
| Government | Territory under League of Nations protection | ||
| Chairman of the Commission of Government | |||
| Established | 1920 | ||
| Independence | from German empire | ||
| Currency | German Papiermark (until 1921), Deutsche Mark (since 1921) | ||
The Ruhr Territory, along the Territory of the Saar Basin, was created by the Treaty of Versailles in 1920. Although under a League of Nations (LoN) mandate, it is under French, Dutch and Belgian economic influence. The later has a form of war payment and to cripple economically Germany. A referendum, in a date not determined by the Treaty would be called to establish its status has: union with Germany or keep its present status.
Being the former key industrial zone of Germany, there have been calls for its return to the Federal Republic of Germany, who pressed for a definition of the date for the referendum.
In 1921 the Commission of Government approved, France and Belgium voting against, to establish a partial economic and customs union with Germany. Also full freedom of movement and residence is established with Germany. In 1922, again with the rejection for France, it ruled that the State of Prussia would have full administrative and police powers in the Ruhr, under revision of the Commission of Government and Territorial Administrator. In no case can Germany station troops or military bases in the Ruhr or within demilitarized zone. In 1923 on proposal of Netherlands, UK and Austria-Hungary it starts a construction plan of working-class estates and improvement of health conditions. This with an improvement of railroad and road networks for cargo and passenger transport. This in collaboration with Prussian State Government.
At odds are the terms of the cuasi-integration of Saar to France (non negotiable according to Paris), different from the Ruhr that functions like common economic territory but with limited German sovereignty. In 1925 on request of Germany, the Commission of Government clarified that the status of the Ruhr ... is territory simultaneously defined has a) of limited and restricted sovereignty by Germany has specified by the Treaty of Versailles and b) an international territory that is economically linked to Germany, France, Netherlands and Belgium by series of agreements of the Council and protocols and treaties between the said states. and the task of the Commission are .. of promoting and easing industrial and economical development of the Ruhr and promoting the welfare of its habitants considering points a) and b).
The proposal of an International Authority for the Ruhr by the LoN has not been widely accepted by France and Germany. The Ruhr and Saar Question has also been one of the reasons for the breakdown of the Conference on European Unity.
Administration of Ruhr
Map of the administration of the Ruhr area, Germany
The administration of Ruhr is in charge of the Commission of Government. Its seven members are nominated by the League of Nations (LoN) every 4 years. It must include at least one French person, at least one Belgian or Dutch person, least one German resident of the Ruhr. It appoints a Territorial Administrator in charge of daily management and has liaison with the State of Prussia. Military Inter-Allied Commission of Control is in command of the occupying forces under instructions of the Commission. The army battalions are from France, Belgium, Netherlands, UK and Italy.
Following the norm of German states, the Ruhr is organized in districts (Landkreise), towns and municipalities. Ample local government autonomy is given within the limits of the articles of the Treaty. In 1926 the Prussian State creates the Siedlungsverband Ruhrbezirk (SVR, Settlement Association of the Ruhr District) has the mandatory association and coordinating body of districts and local governments in the Ruhr. Among its task are public transport coordination, urban planning and health and welfare services integration. Local policy authorities are also integrated.
Economy
Ruhr's coal industry is directly administered by France and Belgian. The steel and iron mills, metal manufacturing, energy production, machine and tool building and automotive industry are in hands of German companies (Krupp, Thyssen, RWE, Vereinigte Stahlwerke AG, Hoesch AG and Mannesmann) and cartels. The Commission of Government has repeatedly rejected the demands of France and Belgian to have more control of them. The armament building facilities have been dismantled. The electrical grid is fully integrated with border states.
Yearly the Commission of Government establishes the exportation quotas of coal, iron and steel for French, Netherlands and Belgian.