Saar 1947-1956 (Germany)

Saarland

Last modified: 2004-12-29 by santiago dotor
Keywords: saar | saarland | sarre | saarlappen | governor | golden section | cross: scandinavian (white) | quartered | mouvement pour le rattachement de la sarre |
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2:3
by Mark Sensen
Flag adopted 17th December 1947, abolished 10th September 1956

• Description
• Discussion on Proportions
• Governor's Flag
• Doubtful variant 1947-1948 (possibly the flag of the Mouvement pour le rattachement de la Sarre)

See also:

• Saar (Saarland)
• Saar Territory 1920-1935 (Saargebiet)
• Germany

After World War Two the Saar was occupied by French troops. By the Saar Constitution from 15th December 1947 a new flag was created, and by Law from 14th December 1948 new Arms. The arms are obviously derived from the flag. The flag showed some kind of Scandinavian cross: a white cross divided the colours blue (at hoist) and red (at fly). The Arms showed the same design, but in a vertical arrangement, i.e. a shield divided by a silver cross, the upper part blue [chief Azure], the lower part red [base Gules]. The crest above the shield was a red bridge with four pillars and three arches, underlining the connecting function of the Saar between France and Germany. The colours and even their arrangement derived from the French tricolour. After the decision of the Saar people to join the Federal Republic of Germany with effect 1st January 1957 the Saar parliament resolved new symbols on 9th July 1956, the present ones. The new flag retook intentionally the German colours black-red-golden, defaced by the new Arms in the centre. Source: Lehne and Kohler 1981.

Dieter Linder, 18 January 1998

It must be said that this flag was never popular in the Saarland. Only the government, parliament and other state departments used it. The flag was also used in major international sport events, especially the Olympic Games of Helsinki in 1952. People favouring a return of the Saar to Germany used the German flag.

Pascal Vagnat, 3 February 1998

A white Scandinavian cross with hoist fields blue and fly fields red. In use 16 June 1948 to 1 January 1957. Illustrated in Kannik 1957 no. 196. Ratio 2:3.

Norman Martin, April 1998

The reason of the Scandinavian cross is unclear, but the Saar was ruled first by politicians belonging to a Christian party. This is