The Saar and Ruhr areas were historically a central location for coal mining. This attracted the steel industry, which is essential for the production of munitions. The Treaty of Paris (1951) established the European Coal and Steel Community, which led to the termination of the International Authority for the Ruhr (whose purpose was to regulate Ruhr coal and steel production and distribution). However, the Treaty sidestepped the issue of the Saar protectorate: an attached protocol stated Germany and France agreed the Treaty would have no bearing on their views of the status of the Saar.
The Saar and Ruhr areas were historically a central location for coal mining This attracted the steel industry which is essential for the production of munitions The Treaty of Paris (1951) established the European Coal and Steel Community which led to the termination of the International Authority for the Ruhr (whose purpose was to regulate Ruhr coal and steel production and distribution) However the Treaty sidestepped the issue of the Saar protectorate an attached protocol stated Germany and France agreed the Treaty would have no bearing on their views of the status of the Saar