Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany

Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Grand Cross in a Special Design (left), Special degree of the Grand Cross (middle and right)
Awarded by the president of Germany
Type	State decoration with seven regular and two special classes
Eligibility	Civilians and military personnel
Statistics
Established	7 September 1951
Grand Cross special class Grand Cross 1st class (special design) Grand Cross 1st class Grand Cross Knight Commander's Cross Commander's Cross Officer's Cross Cross Medal Ribbon bars of the Order of Merit

The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland) is the only general state decoration of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has existed since 7 September 1951, and between 3,000 and 5,200 awards are given every year across all classes.^{[citation needed]} Colloquially, the decorations of the different classes of the Order are known as Federal Cross of Merit (German: Bundesverdienstkreuz).

Most of the German federal states (Bundesländer) have their own orders of merit, with up to three ranks (member, officer, commander). This excludes the Free and Hanseatic Cities of Bremen and Hamburg, which reject any orders; by old tradition their citizens will refuse any decoration in the form of an order (most famous example: former Chancellor Helmut Schmidt).

Classes

Grand Cross

The Bundesverdienstkreuz has eight classes, in ascending order:

• Verdienstmedaille (Medal)
• Verdienstkreuz am Bande (Cross)
  international equivalent: Ritterkreuz (Knight's Cross)
• Verdienstkreuz 1. Klasse (Officer's Cross)
• Großes Verdienstkreuz (Halskreuz) (Commander's Cross or Grand Cross (Neck cross))
• Großes Verdienstkreuz mit Stern (Knight Commander's Cross or Grand Cross with Star)
• Großes Verdienstkreuz mit Stern und Schulterband (Grand Cross with Star and Sash)
  international equivalent: Großkreuz 2. Klasse (Grand Cross of Merit, Second class) or Großkomturkreuz (Grand Commander's Cross)
• Großkreuz (Grand Cross 1st class)
• Sonderstufe des Großkreuzes (Grand Cross special class)

The President of the Federal Republic holds the Sonderstufe des Großkreuzes ex officio. It is awarded to him in a ceremony by the President of the Bundestag attended by the Chancellor, the President of the Bundesrat and the Supreme Court President. Other than the President of the Federal Republic, only a foreign head of state can be awarded with the highest class. There is also the provision of awarding the Großkreuz in a special rare design,^[1] which has so far only been used twice: for Konrad Adenauer and for Helmut Kohl.

Medal of Merit

Certificate of Bestowal

Insignia

Except for the lowest class, the badge is the same for all classes, but with slightly different versions for men and women (slightly smaller badge and ribbon for women):

The badge is a golden Cross enamelled in red, with a central disc bearing a black eagle.

The star is a golden star with straight rays, its size and points vary according to class, with the badge superimposed upon it.

The ribbon is red with gold-black-gold stripes.

See also

• Bundeswehr Crosses and Medal of Honor
• German Armed Forces Badge of Marksmanship
• German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency
• German Armed Forces Flood Service Medal
• German Armed Forces Service Medal
• German Parachutist Badge
• German Sports Badge

References

1. ^ In which the central medallion with the black eagle is surrounded by a stylized laurel wreath in relief.

External links

• The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
• Classes of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany with their official French, English, Spanish and Russian translations
• The President of the Federal Republic of Germany webpage (German)
• Stiftung Haus der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (German)