the pre-war period saw a number of german sides from saarland, danzig and the memel region playing in german league and cup competitions even though the versailles treaty had handed those regions over to the league of nations after the end of world war i; football-wise, they had remained within the dfb (or drl, respectively). in post-war times, 1. fc saarbrücken (formerly fv saarbrücken) played in the french second division for one season. they won that division handily but were denied promotion to the first division. the saarland was to be granted its own fifa membership until it was re-united with germany in 1956.