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How did plebiscites determine the future of Schleswig and the Saarland?

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Treaty of Versailles The “Big Four” (left to right): David Lloyd George of Britain, Vittorio Orlando of Italy, Georges Clemenceau of France, and Woodrow Wilson of the United States, the principal architects of the Treaty of Versailles.

Under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, plebiscites were utilized to resolve territorial disputes based on the principle of national self-determination.1

Schleswig

Following World War I, the Paris Peace Conference mandated that a plebiscite be held in Schleswig to determine its final status. In 1920, separate votes were conducted in the northern and southern portions of the region. The northern zone voted 70 percent in favor of joining Denmark, while the southern portion voted 80 percent to remain with Germany. Consequently, northern Schleswig was transferred to Denmark, establishing a stable border that persists today.23

Saarland

The Saarland region was placed under the administration of the League of Nations for 15 years, during which time France was granted control of its coal mines to aid in postwar reconstruction. The treaty stipulated that at the end of this period, a plebiscite would allow the inhabitants to choose their political future. In the plebiscite held on January 13, 1935, more than 90 percent of the voters chose to return to Germany.451