Flag of Saarland
Encyclopedia
The flag of Saarland is based on the flag of Germany and is a black, red, and gold (yellow) horizontal tricolor. In the center of the flag is the coat of arms of Saarland
. The flag of Saarland is both the civil flag
(Landesflagge), as well as the state service flag (Landesdienstflagge).
was formed by the Treaty of Versailles which ended World War I
. It was decided that the area belonged to Germany, but would be administered by France on behalf of the League of Nations
. On 28 July 1920, it was decided that the area would use a blue, white, and black horizontal tricolour flag. This was used until 1 March 1935, when the area again came under German administration. In 1935, when Germany once again assumed control of the Saarland, it was assumed no new flag was created, since the Saarland was absorbed into the area known as Westmark
.
At the conclusion of World War II
the French assumed control of the Saar
as a protectorate
. The flag used at this time was a design with a Scandinavian cross. Left of the vertical bar of the cross was blue, and to the right was red. The colors are derived from the colors of the French flag.
When the Saar protectorate rejoined the Federal Republic of Germany, in 1957 it adopted its current flag. This is based on the flag of Germany, defaced
by the Coat of arms of Saarland
. The four quarters of the shield of the state coat of arms represent the historic areas of Nassau-Saarbrücken
, Archbishopric and Electorate of Trier
, Duchy of Lorraine, and Palatinate-Zweibrücken
.
Coat of arms of Saarland
This article is about the coat of arms of the German state of Saarland.The coat of arms of Saarland is parted per cross:*The first quarter shows the coat of arms of the prince of Nassau-Saarbrücken, a silver lion with golden crown, between nine crosses agent. The shield is blue...
. The flag of Saarland is both the civil flag
Civil flag
A civil flag is a version of the national flag that is flown by civilians on non-government installations or craft. The use of civil flags was more common in the past, in order to denote buildings or ships that were not manned by the military....
(Landesflagge), as well as the state service flag (Landesdienstflagge).
History
The Saar regionSaar (League of Nations)
The Territory of the Saar Basin , also referred as the Saar or Saargebiet, was a region of Germany that was occupied and governed by Britain and France from 1920 to 1935 under a League of Nations mandate, with the occupation originally being under the auspices of the Treaty of Versailles...
was formed by the Treaty of Versailles which ended World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. It was decided that the area belonged to Germany, but would be administered by France on behalf of the League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
. On 28 July 1920, it was decided that the area would use a blue, white, and black horizontal tricolour flag. This was used until 1 March 1935, when the area again came under German administration. In 1935, when Germany once again assumed control of the Saarland, it was assumed no new flag was created, since the Saarland was absorbed into the area known as Westmark
Westmark
Westmark may refer to:* Westmark , a fantasy novel written by Lloyd Alexander* Reichsgau Westmark, a planned Reichsgau of Nazi Germany, that included the former Territory of the Saar Basin, the Bavarian Palatinate and after 1940 the French département of Moselle in Lorraine * The Westmark School, a...
.
At the conclusion of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the French assumed control of the Saar
Saar (protectorate)
The Saar Protectorate was a German borderland territory twice temporarily made a protectorate state. Since rejoining Germany the second time in 1957, it is the smallest Federal German Area State , the Saarland, not counting the city-states Berlin, Hamburg and Bremen...
as a protectorate
Protectorate
In history, the term protectorate has two different meanings. In its earliest inception, which has been adopted by modern international law, it is an autonomous territory that is protected diplomatically or militarily against third parties by a stronger state or entity...
. The flag used at this time was a design with a Scandinavian cross. Left of the vertical bar of the cross was blue, and to the right was red. The colors are derived from the colors of the French flag.
When the Saar protectorate rejoined the Federal Republic of Germany, in 1957 it adopted its current flag. This is based on the flag of Germany, defaced
Defacement (flag)
Defacement is a term used in heraldry and vexillology to refer to the addition of a symbol or charge to another flag. For example, the Australian flag is the British Blue Ensign defaced with the Southern Cross in the fly and the Commonwealth Star in the lower hoist quarter, beneath the Union...
by the Coat of arms of Saarland
Coat of arms of Saarland
This article is about the coat of arms of the German state of Saarland.The coat of arms of Saarland is parted per cross:*The first quarter shows the coat of arms of the prince of Nassau-Saarbrücken, a silver lion with golden crown, between nine crosses agent. The shield is blue...
. The four quarters of the shield of the state coat of arms represent the historic areas of Nassau-Saarbrücken
Nassau-Saarbrücken
Nassau-Saarbrücken was a county of the Holy Roman Empire in the Upper Rhenish Circle. It belonged to the Walram branch of the House of Nassau.-County of Saarbrücken:...
, Archbishopric and Electorate of Trier
Archbishopric of Trier
The Archbishopric of Trier was a Roman Catholic diocese in Germany, that existed from Carolingian times until the end of the Holy Roman Empire. Its suffragans were the dioceses of Metz, Toul and Verdun. Since the 9th century the Archbishops of Trier were simultaneously princes and since the 11th...
, Duchy of Lorraine, and Palatinate-Zweibrücken
Palatinate-Zweibrücken
Palatinate-Zweibrücken is a former state of the Holy Roman Empire. Its capital was Zweibrücken.-Overview:→ History before 1394 see main article County of Zweibrücken→ History before 1444 see main article County of Veldenz...
.