The “Blue Max” – the Highest Military
Distinction of Prussia and the German
Empire (XVIII – beg. XX Centuries)


	History magazine - researches Reference: A. L. Khazin The “Blue Max” – the Highest Military Distinction of Prussia and the German Empire (XVIII – beg. XX Centuries) // History magazine - researches. 2014. № 1. P. 87-92. URL: https://en.nbpublish.com/library_read_article.php?id=65020 A. L. Khazin The “Blue Max” – the Highest Military Distinction of Prussia and the German Empire (XVIII – beg. XX Centuries) Abstract: The article examines the history of one of the most esteemed and renowned military distinctions of Prussia and the German – the order “Pour le Meʹrite”. It describes the establishment of the order by king Fredrick II, notes its connection with the order of “de la Geʹneʹrositeʹ”, which was created in the XVIIth century, and underlines the importance of the order “Pour le Meʹrite” as an exclusively prestigious distinction destined to serve as a symbol of Prussia’s strengthening and expansion. The author gives a description of the order’s symbols, for military valor and for civil honor, and separately mentions the various “bonuses” to the distinction (“oak leaves” and diamond figures), as well as the special class of the order “Pour le Meʹrite” – the Big Cross. Special attention is given to the practice of awarding the distinction “Pour le Meʹrite” and to some of the most illustrious knights of the order, among which were statesmen and military generals. A milestone in the history of this award was the establishment by king Frederick William IV in 1842 of a civil class of the order, which was bestowed upon famous scholars and artists. The awarding of the civil distinction of the order “Pour le Meʹrite” has survived to today, thereby connecting the historical and the contemporary German distinction systems. The article is accompanied by illustrations. Keywords: Pour le Meʹrite, history, Prussia, Germany, decoration system, oak leaves, diamond figures, merit, military, scientific. This article can be downloaded freely in PDF format for reading. Download article References 1. Allerhöchste Kabinetts-Ordre vom 20 Septembre 1866 // Deutschlands Ritter-und Verdienst-Orden der Gegenwart / W. Schultze (Hrsg.). 1898. 2. Bresson J. Précis Historique des Ordres de Chevalerie, Décorations militaires et civiles. Paris, 1844. 3. Gottschalk F. Almanach der Ritter-Orden. Leipzig, 1818. 4. Henssonow S. F. (ed.), Surhone L. M., Tennoe M. T. Order of Merit of the Prussian Crown. Betascript Publishing, 2011. 5. Heyde F. Die altpreußischen Orden, Ehrenzeichen, Ehrenmedaillen, sonstigen Auszeichnungen und ihre brandenburgischen Vorläufer (1701–1809). 2 Bde. Abt. B. Corpus. Anhange 1–3. Osnabrück, 1979. 6. Klingbeil K. Orden 1700–2000. In 4 Bds. Band III. Preussen. Nürtingen, 2008. 7. Lehmann G. Die Ritter des Ordens pour le Mérite, Erster Band 1740–1811. Berlin, 1913. Nr. 1. 8. Moller-Witten H. Historisches und Unbekanntes über den Orden Pour le Mérite // Zeitschrift für Heereskunde. Nr. 119. Beckum, 1969. 9. Nimmergut J. Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen bis 1945. Bd. 1: Anhalt-Hohenzollern. München, 1997. 10. Nimmergut J. Orden als Staatsauszeichnung persönlicher Verdienste // Panorama der Friderizianischen Zeit: Friedrich der Große und seine Epoche: Ein Handbuch / J. Ziechmann (Hrsg.). Bremen, 1985. 11. The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honor of All Nations. London, 1858. 12. Thies A. Das Großkreuz des Ordens Pour le Mérite // INFO 49. 8. Jhg. Febr. 1987. München, S.37–38 13. Urkunde über die Stiftung einer besonderen Klasse des Ordens Pour le Mérite für Wissenschaften und Künste // Deutschlands Ritter-und Verdienst-Orden der Gegenwart / W. Schultze (Hrsg.). 1898.

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A. L. Khazin The “Blue Max” – the Highest Military Distinction of Prussia and the German Empire (XVIII – beg. XX Centuries)