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The flag of the Saarland consists of the German national tricolor — three horizontal stripes of black, red, and gold — defaced in the center with the state coat of arms (the four-quartered shield representing Saarbrücken, Trier, Lorraine, and Palatinate-Zweibrücken). The combination of federal colors with the state arms reflects the Saarland's reunification with Germany in 1957 after a decade as a French protectorate. The flag was officialized in 1957.
The coat of arms of the Saarland is quartered, combining the historical arms of the four principal territories merged into the modern state. First quarter: gold with a red lion rampant — for the County of Saarbrücken (House of Nassau-Saarbrücken). Second quarter: silver with a black Latin cross — for the Electorate of Trier. Third quarter: silver with three red eagles in pall — for the Duchy of Lorraine. Fourth quarter: azure with a crowned gold lion holding a red ball — for the Duchy of Palatinate-Zweibrücken. The arms were officialized by state law on 9 July 1956, in preparation for the Saarland's accession to West Germany on 1 January 1957.