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.

At the conclusion of World War II, the French assumed control of the Saar as a protectorate.

When the Saar Protectorate rejoined the Federal Republic of Germany in 1957, it adopted its current flag.

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.