Plebiscites After the First World War

What is a plebiscite?

A plebiscite is a vote or referendum on an important issue in a country or region.

Why were plebiscites held after the First World War?

Several plebiscites were held in disputed territories to fulfil Woodrow Wilson's idea of national self-determination, and to allow certain European populations to decide which country they wanted to be a part of.

Where did plebiscites take place after the Versailles conference?

There were 4 key plebiscites held as part of the Versailles Settlement. People voted for the country they wanted their area to belong to.

• ❖ In 1920, a plebiscite was held in Schleswig to decide if it should be part of Germany or Denmark.
• ❖ Two areas of East Prussia, Allenstein and Marienwerder, held a plebiscite in 1920 to decide if they should remain part of Germany.
• ❖ Upper Silesia had a plebiscite in 1921 to decide if it should be part of Germany or Poland.
• ❖ After the Treaty of Versailles, the Saar Basin was run by the League of Nations for 15 years. In 1935, the plebiscite was held to decide if it should return to Germany.

What happened in the Schleswig plebiscite?

The plebiscite in Schleswig in 1920 was to decide whether the area should belong to Germany or Denmark. The result saw the area partitioned between the two countries.

What happened in the East Prussia plebiscites?

There were plebiscites in two areas of East Prussia, Marienwerder and Allenstein. Both areas remained part of Germany.

What happened in the plebiscite in Upper Silesia?

The Upper Silesia plebiscite was to determine whether it should belong to Germany or Poland. Although Germans had the majority vote, riots and protest by Poles in the east of the region led to the area being partitioned between the two countries.

What happened in the Saar plebiscite?

It was decided the Saar Basin, an important coal-mining region, should be run by the League of Nations for 15 years. At the end of that time, it would hold a plebiscite to decide whether it wanted to belong to Germany, France, or remain independent.