Neutral Moresnet
1816–1921 small Belgian–Prussian condominium / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Neutral Moresnet (French pronunciation: [mɔʁɛsnɛt],[6] [mɔʁɛsnɛ],[7] German pronunciation: [ˈmɔʁəsnɛt], [ˌmɔʁəsˈnɛt]) was a small Belgian–Prussian condominium in western Europe that existed from 1816 to 1921 and was administered jointly by the United Kingdom of the Netherlands (Belgium after its independence in 1830) and the Kingdom of Prussia. It was 1.5 kilometres (1 mi) wide and five kilometres (3 mi) long, with an area of 360 hectares (900 acres). After 1830, the territory's northernmost border point at Vaalserberg connected it to a quadripoint shared additionally with the Dutch Province of Limburg, the Prussian Rhine Province, and the Belgian Liège Province.[8] Its former location is represented presently by the Three-Country Point, the meeting place of the borders of Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands.
Neutral Moresnet[1]
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1816–1921 | |||||||||
Anthem: The Amikejo-March[2][3] (Marche Amikejo[4]) | |||||||||
Status | Neutral zone | ||||||||
Capital | Kelmis | ||||||||
Languages |
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Demonym(s) | Moresnetic | ||||||||
Government | Condominium sui iuris | ||||||||
Mayor | |||||||||
• 1817–1859 (first) | Arnold de Lasaulx | ||||||||
• 1918–1921 (last) | Pierre Grignard | ||||||||
Historical era | Late modern | ||||||||
• Aachen Agreement | 26 June 1816 | ||||||||
• Prussian annexation | 27 June 1915 | ||||||||
28 June 1919 | |||||||||
• Belgian annexation | 10 January 1921 | ||||||||
Area | |||||||||
• Total | 3.5 km2 (1.4 sq mi) | ||||||||
Population | |||||||||
• 1900 | 3,000 | ||||||||
• 1914 | 3,500 | ||||||||
Currency | French franc | ||||||||
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Today part of | Belgium |
During the First World War, Neutral Moresnet was annexed by Germany, although the allies did not recognise the annexation. The armistice between France and Germany in November 1918 forced Germany to withdraw from Belgium and Neutral Moresnet. A year later, the Treaty of Versailles awarded Neutral Moresnet to Belgium, effective 10 January 1921, when the territory was annexed by Belgium to become the municipality of Kelmis.
During World War II, Kelmis and the area surrounding was again annexed by Germany and had its name reverted to Moresnet, but the territory was returned to Belgium during 1944.