The badge “Treue um Treue, Saar 1935” (Loyalty for Loyalty, Saar 1935) represents one of the significant commemorative pieces of National Socialist propaganda related to the Saar plebiscite of January 13, 1935. This iron sheet metal badge documents a decisive chapter in German history between the two World Wars and demonstrates the skillful instrumentalization of a democratic process by the Nazi regime.

Following World War I, the Saar territory was placed under the administration of the League of Nations for 15 years according to Articles 45-50 of the Treaty of Versailles of 1919. The region's coal mines were transferred to France as compensation for the destruction of French mines during the war. The treaty stipulated that after this period, a plebiscite would be held to determine the political future of the territory. The population had three options: union with France, union with Germany, or maintenance of the status quo under League of Nations administration.

The National Socialist regime under Adolf Hitler, which had come to power in January 1933, recognized the propagandistic significance of this vote. A successful reintegration of the Saar territory would not only represent a foreign policy success but also strengthen the prestige of the new regime domestically and internationally. The Nazi propaganda machine under Joseph Goebbels employed all available means to win the Saar population for a return to the German Reich.

The slogan “Treue um Treue” (Loyalty for Loyalty) became a central element of this campaign. It suggested a mutual obligation between the Reich and the Saar population: the Saarlanders should remain loyal to the German fatherland, while the Reich promised in return to faithfully care for the region's welfare. This emotional message targeted the national identity and sense of belonging of the German population.

The plebiscite on January 13, 1935, produced an overwhelming result: 90.73 percent of voters chose to return to Germany. Only about 9 percent voted for the status quo, and less than 1 percent for union with France. Of the approximately 528,000 eligible voters, around 98 percent cast their ballots. This result was internationally recognized as a legitimate expression of popular will, even though the massive propagandistic influence by the Nazi regime was undeniable.

On March 1, 1935, the official reintegration of the Saar territory into the German Reich took place. This day was celebrated with great festivities and exploited for propaganda purposes. The event was portrayed as Hitler's first major foreign policy triumph, allegedly achieved without violence and through democratic means.

In this context, numerous commemorative badges and medals were manufactured and distributed. The present iron sheet metal badge belongs to this category of propaganda materials. Such badges were often made from inexpensive materials like sheet metal to enable mass distribution. They were fitted with pin attachments so they could be worn on clothing. Wearers of such badges demonstrated their support for the reintegration and their loyalty to the Nazi regime.

The design of such badges typically followed the aesthetic conventions of Nazi propaganda: clear, powerful symbolism, catchy slogans, and often the use of traditional German symbols. The mass production and distribution of such commemorative items was part of a comprehensive strategy to create an emotional bond between the population and the regime and its “successes.”

From today's perspective, these objects are important historical sources for understanding Nazi propaganda methods and the political culture of the Third Reich. They document how the regime instrumentalized democratic processes for its purposes and engaged in symbolic politics. The Saar plebiscite was in fact the last largely free referendum associated with the Nazi regime; later “votes” such as those following the Anschluss of Austria in 1938 already took place under complete National Socialist control.

Collections of such badges today offer insight into the material culture and propaganda strategies of the Nazi era. They are testimonies of an epoch that requires critical historical examination and should serve as a warning.