Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany

Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland Special design of the Grand Cross 1st Class (left) and the Grand Cross Special Class (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 2nd Class Grand Officer's Cross Commander's Cross Officer's Cross Knight's Cross Merit 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 federal decoration of Germany. It was created by the first President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Theodor Heuss, on 7 September 1951. Colloquially, the decorations of the different classes of the Order are also known as Federal Cross of Merit (German: Bundesverdienstkreuz).

Most of the German federal states (Bundesländer) have each their own order of merit as well, with the exception of the Free and Hanseatic Cities of Bremen and Hamburg, which reject any orders (by old tradition their citizens, particularly former or present senators, will refuse any decoration in the form of an order. Most famous example: former Chancellor Helmut Schmidt).

Classes

The Order comprises four groups with in total eight classes:

• Grand Cross (Großkreuz)
  • Grand Cross Special Class (Sonderstufe des Großkreuzes)
  • Grand Cross 1st Class (Großkreuz), sometimes with laurel wreath (special design; Großkreuz besonderer Ausführung)
• Grand Merit Cross (Großes Verdienstkreuz)
  • Grand Cross 2nd Class, or Grand Merit Cross with Star and Sash (Großes Verdienstkreuz mit Stern und Schulterband)
  • Grand Officer's Cross, or Grand Merit Cross with Star (Großes Verdienstkreuz mit Stern)
  • Commander's Cross, or Grand Merit Cross (Großes Verdienstkreuz)
• Merit Cross (Verdienstkreuz)
  • Officer's Cross, or Merit Cross 1st Class (Verdienstkreuz 1. Klasse)
  • Knight's Cross, or Merit Cross on Ribbon (Verdienstkreuz am Bande)
• Merit Medal (Verdienstmedaille)

The President of the Federal Republic holds the Grand Cross Special Class ex officio. It is awarded to him in a ceremony by the President of the Bundestag, attended by the Chancellor of Germany, the President of the Bundesrat, and the Supreme Court President. Other than the German president, only a foreign head of state can be awarded with this highest class. There is also the provision of awarding the Grand Cross 1st Class in a special rare design, in which the central medallion with the black eagle is surrounded by a stylized laurel wreath in relief. This Grand Cross special design has been awarded so far only twice, to former German chancellors Konrad Adenauer and Helmut Kohl.

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.

• 8-pointed golden Star : Grand Cross Special Class
• 6-pointed golden Star : Grand Cross 1st Class (with special design if golden oak crown between the cross branches around the medallion)
• 4-pointed golden Star : Grand Cross 2nd Class (Grand Merit Cross with Star and Sash)
• silver Square-upon-point : Grand Officer (Grand Merit Cross with Star)

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

• 

  Grand Cross Special Class
• 

  Grand Cross 2nd Class
  (without showing the star)
• 

  Star of the Grand Cross 2nd Class
• 

  Star of the Grand Officer's Cross
• 

  Commander's Cross
• 

  Medal of Merit
• 

  Certificate of Bestowal

See also

• Iron Cross
• Pour le Mérite
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
• Awards and decorations of the German Armed Forces

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)