Dessau-Roßlau

About the place: Dessau-Roßlau is an independent city in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, located at the confluence of the Elbe and Mulde rivers. Formed in 2007 through the merger of Dessau and Roßlau, it is widely known for its Bauhaus architecture.

Flag Description: The flag consists of a horizontal bicolour with proportions of 3:5, divided into two equal horizontal stripes: yellow on top and red at the bottom. In the center of the flag is the city's coat of arms. The shield is topped by a red crenellated wall with five merlons and five windows. The shield is quartered: the first quarter (top left from the observer's perspective) shows a red Anhalt eagle with golden armature on silver/white, the second quarter (top right) features ten horizontal stripes of black and yellow charged with a green crancelin, the third quarter (bottom left) is quartered gold and red (Waldersee), and the fourth quarter (bottom right) depicts a red ship on blue water with a yellow sail bearing a crowned black bear, representing the former town of Roßlau.

Symbolism: The yellow and red colours derive from the traditional Anhalt colours. The coat of arms in the center merges the heraldic symbols of the merged entities: the Anhalt eagle and Saxon crancelin for Dessau and Anhalt, the quartered field of the County of Waldersee, and a ship with a bear on its sail representing Roßlau's river trade heritage. The red mural crown atop the shield signifies city rights.