Pour le Mérite

E7249

Pour le Mérite was the Kingdom of Prussia’s highest military order of merit, famously awarded for extraordinary bravery and leadership in battle.

All labels observed (4)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (49)

Predicate Object
instanceOf military order
order of merit
alsoKnownAs Blue Max
surface form: Blauer Max

Blue Max
awardFor extraordinary bravery in battle
outstanding military leadership
awardingBody Wilhelm II, German Emperor
surface form: German Emperor (as King of Prussia)

Frederick I of Prussia
surface form: King of Prussia
centralDevice Prussian royal monogram
civilClassContinuedBy Germany
surface form: Federal Republic of Germany
countryOfOrigin Prussia
surface form: Kingdom of Prussia
eligibility Prussian military personnel
later German Empire military personnel
enamelColor blue
foundedBy Frederick II of Prussia
hasCivilClassSuccessor Order Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts
surface form: Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts
higherAward none (highest Prussian military order)
inception 1740
languageOfName French
lastAwarded 1918
laterAwardedFor both officers and, in special cases, non‑commissioned officers
lowerAward Order of the Red Eagle
material gold
militaryClassDiscontinued 1918
motto Pour le Mérite self-link
mottoLanguage French
mottoMeaning For Merit
namedAfter Maximilian von Forckenbeck (nickname origin disputed)
notableRecipient Erich Ludendorff
Erwin Rommel
Manfred von Richthofen
Max Immelmann
Oswald Boelcke
Paul von Hindenburg
obverseInscription Pour le Mérite self-link
originallyAwardedFor military merit
partOf Prussian honours system
region Prussia
religiousAffiliation originally Protestant Prussian order
reverseFeature Prussian eagles
ribbonColor black with silver stripes (for some variants)
shape Maltese cross
status military class discontinued
symbolizes highest recognition of Prussian military gallantry and leadership
usedInConflict Franco-Prussian War
surface form: Franco‑Prussian War

Napoleonic Wars
Seven Years' War
World War I
wornWith neck ribbon

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (77)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

von Leeb awardReceived Pour le Mérite
subject surface form: Wilhelm von Leeb
Prince Charles of Prussia decoratedWith Pour le Mérite
this entity surface form: Pour le Mérite (military class)
Albrecht von Roon awardReceived Pour le Mérite
this entity surface form: Pour le Mérite (military class)
Hermann Köhl awardReceived Pour le Mérite
Ian Hamilton awardReceived Pour le Mérite
this entity surface form: Pour le Mérite (military class)
Alfred von Tirpitz awardReceived Pour le Mérite
this entity surface form: Pour le Mérite (military class)
Ludwig von Falkenhausen awardReceived Pour le Mérite
Bruno Loerzer awardReceived Pour le Mérite
Pour le Mérite with Oak Leaves partOf Pour le Mérite
this entity surface form: Pour le Mérite award system
Pour le Mérite with Oak Leaves follows Pour le Mérite
Pour le Mérite with Oak Leaves isUpgradeOf Pour le Mérite
this entity surface form: Pour le Mérite without Oak Leaves
Lothar von Richthofen awardReceived Pour le Mérite
House Order of Hohenzollern precedes Pour le Mérite
Red Eagle Order relatedAward Pour le Mérite
Karl von Steinmetz awardReceived Pour le Mérite
Prince Albert of Prussia awardReceived Pour le Mérite
this entity surface form: Pour le Mérite (military class)
Ferdinand von Zeppelin awardReceived Pour le Mérite
this entity surface form: Pour le Mérite (military class)
Werner Voss awardReceived Pour le Mérite
Der Adler von Lille decoratedWith Pour le Mérite
subject surface form: Max Immelmann
Walther von Lüttwitz awardReceived Pour le Mérite
Ernst Jünger awardReceived Pour le Mérite