Germany’s
highest military medal sounds like it should have been awarded
in France. Pour le Mérite, also known as The Blue Max,
dates back to 1667 when, in the German state of of Brandenburg,
the Ordre de la Generosite - the Order of Generosity - was created
by Frederick William I. (French was the language of the Royal
Court, which is why the French name is actually appropriate.)
The award's name was subsequently modified in June 1740 to Pour
le Mérite by Frederick the Great. Frederick planned to
issue the new award to subjects performing with particular merit
in the coming conflict with Silesia.
The award could (and was) awarded to civilians and civilians until
January 1810. Frederick William III however decreed that afterwards
the award could only be presented to serving military personnel,
although a civil class for arts and science was initiated in 1842.
Following the death of his wife, Queen Louise, Frederick creatd
the 'Oak Leaves' in her honour. The Oak Leaves (which was formally
documented in 1813) was available for presentation to Pour le
Mérite holders in the event of additional extraordinary
achievements.
The Pour le Mérite, along with all other imperial orders,
was similarly abolished along with Kaiser Wilhelm II’s abdication
on November 9, 1918. Once again however a civil class of the award
was re-introduced in February 1922.
It is actually possible to receive the award on more than one
occasion- and belatedly, as Count Franz Florentin Valory discovered;
he received his award 21 years after the events actually cited.
It was during the Great War of 1914-18 when the award gained its
greatest fame. It was awarded to commanders operating on all fronts
and in all forms of warfare. In the aerial war a fighter pilot
was initially entitled to the award upon downing eight enemy aircraft.
Max Immelmann was thus the first airman to receive the award,
after which it became known - on account of its colour and its
recipient - as the Blue Max among his fellow pilots.
The last surviving recipient of the military Pour le Mérite,
Ernst Junger, died in 1998.
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