Category:1920 stamps of Northern Schleswig

Although the Kingdom of Denmark was not a combatant nation in the World War I had the Treaty of Versailles determined in article 109, section 1: "...the border between Germany and Denmark is determined corresponding of the wishes of the population..." and in the section 4 of this article "...are ordered to decide per plebiscite...". For this aim was the northern part of the then Prussian province Schleswig-Holstein divided in three so-called zones (referendum areas). The so-called Zone I concerned North Slesvig, Zone II concerned Central Slesvig and Zone III concerned South Slesvig until to the so-called “Danewerk-line” (= a line between Husum Schlei and Eider Schlei).



The preparation and implementation of this referendum was assigned to an interallied commission with head office in Flensburg, formed by each a representant of Great Britain, France, Sweden and Norway. To the ‘’Commission Internationale de Surveillance du Plébiscite Slesvig (CIS)’’ were subordinated to this aim a new created special police unit as well as English and French military units.



The plebiscite took place at the 10th of February, 1920 in the zone 1 (Northern Slesvig) and on the 14th of March, 1920 in the zone 2 (Central Slesvig). (The 3rd zone was eliminated again after inner-Danish disputes.) In the northern zone 1 were the votes counted “en bloc”, whereas in the southern zone 2 the votings were counted for each village separately. The result of the referendum was a clear “Pro-Danish” vote in the northern “1. Zone” and a clear “Pro-German” vote in the southern “2. Zone”.



The cession of North-Schlesvig took place on the 15th of June, 1920. This day (15th June) is called in Denmark “Genforeningsdag" (= Day of Reunification with Denmark) and is celebrated annual since.



According to the article 95 of the Treaty of Versailles should the expenses for the practice of this commission and their military units as well as for the preparation and the implementation of the referendum be defrayed by local revenues, and possible additional costs by the German state administration of Prussia. On order of the commission were for this aim, amongst others, printed and sold special postal stamps for the plebiscite area “Slesvig”. These were valid as postage stamps from the 25th of January, 1920 to the 27th of May, 1920 in the “Zone 1” and to the 23th of June, 1920 in the “Zone 2”. On the 20th of May, 1920 was introduced the Danish currency in the areas of the zone 1.



The commission and their military units left this area again on the 16th of June, 1920.