Whether as a television event or a book publication, the 1920s have been the focus of public interest for several years now.

However, one aspect of this period is only touched upon briefly—the Allied occupation after the end of World War I in 1918, which affected large parts of the Rhineland.

Until 1930, the people of Mainz experienced French military administration and separatist unrest, passive resistance and expulsions, and the racist campaign against African colonial soldiers. The people of Mainz had different experiences in the 1920s than people in the rest of Germany.

With "Inventory 71, French Occupation Affairs 1918-1930," an important collection of files in the Mainz City Archives has now been processed. In February 2025, the archival cataloging was completed, and on March 24, the inventory was presented to the public. This means that new historical sources are now available for research.

If you are curious, browse through our database. You can order interesting files online via our homepage or by e-mail for the reading room.