Editing Rhineland (section)

===1918–1945===
{{main|Allied occupation of the Rhineland}}
The occupation of the Rhineland took place following the [[Armistice with Germany]] of 11 November 1918. The occupying armies consisted of [[National Army (USA)|American]], [[Belgian Army|Belgian]], [[British Army|British]] and [[French Army|French]] forces. Under the [[Treaty of Versailles]], German troops were banned from all territory west of the Rhine and within 50 kilometers east of the Rhine.

In 1920, under massive French pressure, the [[Saar (League of Nations)|Saar]] was separated from the Rhine Province and administered by the [[League of Nations]] until a plebiscite in 1935, when the region was returned to Germany.  At the same time, in 1920, the districts of [[Eupen]] and [[Malmedy]] were transferred to [[Belgium]] (see [[German-Speaking Community of Belgium]]).

In January 1923, in response to Germany's failure to meet its [[World War I reparations|reparations obligations]], French and Belgian troops [[Occupation of the Ruhr|occupied the Ruhr]] district, strictly controlling all important industrial areas. The Germans responded with passive resistance, which led to [[Hyperinflation in the Weimar Republic|hyperinflation]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hyperinflation and the invasion of the Ruhr |url=https://www.theholocaustexplained.org/the-nazi-rise-to-power/the-weimar-republic/invasion-of-the-ruhr/ |access-date=27 November 2023 |website=The Holocaust Explained|date=10 April 1933 }}</ref> and the French gained very little of the reparations they wanted. French troops left the Ruhr in August 1925.

The occupation of the remainder of the Rhineland ended on 30 June 1930.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Erster Weltkrieg und Besatzung 1918–1930 in Rheinland-Pfalz: 9. Der Abzug der Besatzungstruppen am 30. Juni 1930 |trans-title=The First World War and the Occupation 1918–1930 in Rhineland-Palatinate: 9. The withdrawal of the occupying troops on 30 June 1930 |url=https://www.1914-1930-rlp.de/staedte-doerfer/worms-1918-1930/9-der-abzug-der-besatzungstruppen-am-30-juni-1930.html#a3 |access-date=21 November 2023 |website=regionalgeschichte.net |language=de}}</ref>

{{main|Remilitarization of the Rhineland}}

On 7 March 1936, in violation of the Treaty of Versailles, German troops marched into the Rhineland and other regions along the Rhine.  German territory west of the Rhine had been off-limits to the German military.

In 1945, the Rhineland was the scene of [[Rhineland Offensive|major fighting]] as the Allied forces overwhelmed the German defenders.<ref>Ken Ford, ''The Rhineland 1945: The Last Killing Ground in the West'' (Osprey, 2000)</ref>