The Belgian region that was almost sold back to Germany for 200 million marks

History · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Tucked between Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, Belgium's German-speaking Community has a turbulent history. Once part of Prussia, this territory was annexed by Belgium after World War I. It has since navigated shifting borders, wartime occupation, and a secret 1920s deal that nearly returned the land to German control.

Known as the East Cantons, this region was part of the Rhine Province of Prussia until 1920. Following Germany's defeat in World War I, the Treaty of Versailles transferred the counties of Eupen and Malmedy to Belgium. The transition was fraught with tension; the Belgian military administration, led by Herman Baltia, required residents to register if they wished to remain German, a process that left many fearing expulsion or reprisal.

The region's status remained precarious throughout the interwar period. In the mid-1920s, Belgium and Germany engaged in secret negotiations to return the territory to Germany for 200 million gold marks to bolster Belgian finances. The deal collapsed only after the French government intervened, concerned that such a transaction would destabilize the postwar order. By 1940, the region was retaken by Germany during World War II, only to be re-annexed by Belgium in 1945, leading to a period of attempted de-Germanization by local authorities.

Today, the German-speaking Community enjoys significant internal autonomy, with its own parliament and government based in Eupen. While it remains part of the French-speaking Wallonia region, there is an ongoing push for full regional status. Figures like Karl-Heinz Lambertz, who served as minister-president from 1999 to 2014, have championed this shift, seeking greater control over areas like spatial planning and social policy. As of 2024, the community comprises nine municipalities with a population of approximately 79,000 people.

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