After World War II, Germany was split into several different occupation zones. But later the different occupation zones were merged into East and West Germany. West Germany is where the modern German state gets its current traditions of medals and decorations from.
Federal State Orders Badge and ribbonName (English/German)Creation date – cessation dateDescriptionNumber awardedOrder of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, or Bundesverdienstorden,7 September 1951A golden cross enamelled in red260,429
Federally recognized orders Badge and ribbonName (English/German)Creation date – cessation dateDescriptionNumber awardedPour le Mérite for the arts and sciences Pour le Mérite für wissenschaft und künste7 June 1740 (whole order)
31 May 1842 (separate class)
1952 (re-established)Awarded to men and women who, through widespread recognition for their contributions to science and art, have made an eminent name for themselvesUnknownOrder of Saint John Johanniterorden1099 (Whole order)
1852 (re-established)For outstanding achievements in charity and support to the sick and needy
Orders of the German States Badge and ribbonName (English/German)Creation date – cessation dateDescriptionNumber awardedOrder of Merit of Baden-Württemberg Verdienstorden des Landes Baden-Württemberg26 November 1974Outstanding contributions to the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, in politics, society, culture and economics.1,989 (as of 2021)Bavarian Order of Merit Bayerischer Verdienstorden11 June 1957Men and women without distinction of nationality or class who have made outstanding contributions to the Free State of Bavaria and the Bavarian people.5725Bavarian Maximilian Order for arts and sciences Bayerischer Maximiliansorden für Wissenschaft und Kunst28 November 1853 (Whole order)
18 March 1980 (re-established)Outstanding achievements in the field of science and art.573Order of Merit of Berlin Verdienstorden des Landes Berlin21 July 1987Outstanding contributions to the state of Berlin454 (as of 1 October 2018}Order of Merit of Brandenburg Verdienstorden des Landes Brandenburg10 July 2003Highest civic recognition that the State of Brandenburg can present for extraordinary services to the state and its people. 108Hessian Order of Merit Hessischer Verdienstorden1 December 1989Outstanding contributions to Hesse, without regard to residence or citizenship.430Order of Merit of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Verdienstorden des Landes Mecklenburg-Vorpommern23 April 2001Exceptional performance over a long period of time, or an extraordinary individual performance for the benefit of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. 60 (as of 2020)Lower Saxony Order of Merit Niedersächsischer Verdienstorden27 March 1961Outstanding selfless commitment to the development of Lower Saxony and its culture. 342 Grand Cross737 Cross of Merit1272 Cross of Merit on Ribbon (as of 2013)Order of Merit of North Rhine-Westphalia Verdienstorden des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen11 March 1986Extraordinary contributions to the people and state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Order of Merit of Rhineland-Palatinate Verdienstorden des Landes Rheinland-Pfalz2 October 1981Outstanding service to the state and people of Rhineland-Palatinate. 1035Saarland Order of Merit Saarländischer Verdienstorden10 December 1974Outstanding service to Saarland. 367Order of Merit of the Free State of Saxony Sächsischer Verdienstorden27 October 1997Outstanding contributions to the people and state of Saxony. 363Order of Merit of Saxony-Anhalt Verdienstorden des Landes Sachsen-Anhalt23 May 2006Exceptional performance over a longer period of time or an extraordinary individual performance for Saxony-Anhalt and its citizens.18Order of Merit of Schleswig-Holstein Verdienstorden des Landes Schleswig-Holstein26 February 2008Outstanding service to Schleswig-Holstein.Order of Merit of the Free State of Thuringia Verdienstorden des Freistaats Thüringen19 September 2000Outstanding service to Thuringia.97
Awards of the Federal Ministry of the Interior These awards and decorations are awarded by the Minister of Interior to members of the Bundeswehr, Bundespolizei, Technisches Hilfswerk.
Badge and ribbonName (English/German)Creation date – cessation dateDescriptionNumber awardedGerman Flood Service Medal 2002 Einsatzmedaille Fluthilfe 2002September 20, 2002for service during the 2002 European floods to members of Technisches Hilfswerk, the Bundeswehr, the Bundesgrenzschutz, foreign armed forces, as well as civilians who assisted the aforementioned organizations???German Flood Service Medal 2013 Einsatzmedaille Fluthilfe 2013July 2, 2013for service during the 2013 European floods by members of the Bundeswehr, Bundespolizei, Technisches Hilfswerk, foreign armed forces, as well as civilians who provided assistance to the relief efforts of the federal agencies???Decoration of the Federal Agency for Technical Relief Ehrenzeichen des Technischen HilfswerksSeptember 2, 1975meritorious service in the field of emergency management or civil protection???
Awards of the Federal Ministry of Defence These Orders and decorations are all awarded to soldiers of Germany and its allies by the Bundeswehr. Badge and ribbonName (English/German)Creation date – cessation dateDescriptionNumber awardedCross of Honour for Bravery Ehrenkreuz der Bundeswehr für TapferkeitOctober 10, 2008for valor beyond the call of duty30Gold Cross of Honour for Outstanding Deeds Ehrenkreuz der Bundeswehr in Gold für besonders herausragende TatenOctober 10, 2008for outstanding deeds at the risk of one's life???Gold Cross of Honour Ehrenkreuz der Bundeswehr in GoldOctober 29, 1980for exemplary and meritorious service over 20 years or exemplary achievements???Silver Cross of Honour for Outstanding Deeds Ehrenkreuz der Bundeswehr in Silber für besonders herausragende TatenOctober 10, 2008for outstanding deeds and extraordinary achievements???Silver Cross of Honour Ehrenkreuz der Bundeswehr in SilberOctober 29, 1980for exemplary and meritious service over 10 years or exemplary achievements???Bronze Cross of Honour Ehrenkreuz der Bundeswehr in BronzeOctober 29, 1980for exemplary and meritious service over 5 years or exemplary achievements???Honor Medal of the Bundeswehr Ehrenmedaille der BundeswehrOctober 29, 1980for exemplary service and meritorious service over 7 months or exemplary achievements???Combat Action Medal Einsatzmedaille GefechtNovember 2010for active participation in ground or surface combat or suffering from terrorist or military violence with exposure to a high personal risk5,845Deployment Medal Einsatzmedaille der BundeswehrApril 25, 1996for military service in a designated military campaign or operation317,394 bronze13,730 silver1,398 gold(as of March 2019)
Denazified decorations after 1957 These awards were reintroduced in 1957 after they had been denazified. Badge and ribbonName (English/German)Creation date – cessation dateDescriptionNumber awardedKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and SwordsRitterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern1 September 1939 – 8 May 1945For continuous bravery before the enemy or excellence in commanding troops after being awarded all preceding classes of the Knight's Cross/Iron Cross.160Iron Cross (1st Class)Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse1 September 1939 – 8 May 1945For continuous bravery before the enemy or excellence in commanding troops after being awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class.c. 300,000Iron Cross (2nd Class)Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse1 September 1939 – 8 May 1945For bravery before the enemy or excellence in commanding troops.c. 4,500,0001939 Clasp to the Iron CrossSpange zum Eisernen Kreuz1 September 1939 – 8 May 1945An award of the Iron Cross, 1st or 2nd class for those who had already received the decoration in World War I.100,000+German Cross in GoldKriegsorden des Deutschen Kreuzes in Gold28 September 1941 – 8 May 1945For continuous bravery before the enemy or excellence in commanding troops (not justifying the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross but having already been awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class)24,204German Cross in SilverKriegsorden des Deutschen Kreuzes in Silber28 September 1941 – 8 May 1945For significant performances in aiding the military war effort. (Not justifying the Knight's Cross of either the Iron Cross or the War Merit Cross but having already been awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class or War Merit Cross 1st Class)1,115Golden Knights Cross of the War Merit CrossGoldenes Ritterkreuz des Kriegsverdienstkreuz13 October 1944 – 8 May 1945Awarded with and without swords.For outstanding contributions to the war effort.2Knights Cross of the War Merit CrossRitterkreuz des Kriegsverdienstkreuz19 August 1940 – 8 May 1945Awarded with and without swords.For meritorious contributions to the war effort after being awarded all preceding classes of the War Merit Cross.c. 250War Merit Cross (1st Class)Kriegsverdienstkreuz 1. Klasse18 October 1939 – 8 May 1945Awarded with and without swords.For meritorious contributions to the war effort after being awarded the War Merit Cross, 2nd class.c. 480,000 with swords c. 90,000 without swordsWar Merit Cross (2nd Class)Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse18 October 1939 – 8 May 1945Awarded with and without swords.For meritorious contributions to the war effort.c. 6,100,000 with swordsc. 1,500,000 without swordsWound Badge Verwundetenabzeichen3 March 1918 – 11 November 1918 1 September 1939 – 8 May 1945Wounds whilst in active servicec. 1,000,000 during ww1 c. 5,000,000 during ww2
Old royal orders recognized by the state Badge and ribbonName (English/German)Creation date – cessation dateDescriptionNumber awardedOrder of the Black Eagle Schwarzer Adlerorden1701 - 1918 (State Order)
1918 - Now (House Order)Members of ruling houses, senior civil and military officials and other worthy figures appointed by the King of Prussia.407 (as of 1918)House Order of Hohenzollern Hausorden von Hohenzollern?????????
See also Orders, decorations, and medals of the German states Awards and decorations of the German Armed Forces
References
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