Saarland

The flag of Saarland features the state coat of arms on a black, red, and gold horizontal tricolor (the German national colors). The quartered shield combines four heraldic charges representing the historical rulers of the region: a silver lion on blue for the County of Nassau-Saarbrücken, a red cross on white for the Electorate of Trier, a golden eagle on red for the Duchy of Lorraine, and a silver lion on red for the Electoral Palatinate. Saarland has a turbulent modern history, having been administered by France after both World Wars before voting to rejoin Germany in a 1955 referendum.