The "Blue Max" Medal.

[gully_raker]

Morning All!
Here is a lovely pic of a Blue Max you might enjoy.

An interesting bit of Blue Max Trivia:
Have you ever wondered why a German Medal is inscribed in French?
Well it seems that the Official language of the Prussan Court was French, hence the inscription in French!

[flyingryno]

Yeah! Why?

[The Cowman]

I know someone who has something that looks a darn bit close to that...

[usmc1855]

In WWI, it was initially awarded after 8 aerial victories. Max Immelmann and Oswald Boelke were the first airmen to receive the award on January 12, 1916. Richthoffen did not receive it until after his 16th victory due to the minimum number of aerial victories being increased, as more and more aerial combats took place, and the number of aerial victories increased, the minimum requirement also increased. 14 Pilots received the Award after only 8 Victories. Richthoffen recieved his after 16 victories. Oddly enough... he is the only one under the '16 victory requirement'. The next to received the award for aerial victories was Warner Voss on 8 Aprill, 1917. He had to wait for his 25th victory. Although the standard had been raised to 20, many recipients did not receive the award until they had well surpassed the minimum number.

Not all recipients where Fighter pilots. Some received the award, not for Aerial Victories, but for recognition of other distinguished actions, or service.

The list below are the Air Service Recipients:

(Source: http://www.pourlemerite.org/ )

No one in the air service received Oakleaves even though Manfred von Richthofen was considered for the award. It was to General Ludendorff's surprise that he did not receive the award. The two highest ranking officers in the air service were also passed over for this recognition unlike their counterparts in the other services, the army and navy. General Leutnant Ernst Wilhelm von Hoeppner and his Chief of Staff, Leutnant Colonel Thomsen were resented and criticized for receiving their Pour le Mérite awards by junior officers due the fact they were in a non-combat leadership positions. They were the only high ranking non-combat officers to receive the award in the air service, and it seems that they were placed in the difficult position of being compared with men that flew machines that were considered dangerous and unstable and chanced losing their lives every time they went out on a mission. It was difficult to be compared with heroes like Werner Voss and Ernst Udet.

Commanding General

Chief of the Air Service Gen. Ernst von Hoeppner awarded on -- 8 April 1917.



Chief of Staff

Chief of Staff of the Air Service Lt. Col. Hermann Thomsen awarded on -- 8 April 1917. He later adopted the last name of von der Lieth-Thomsen, but that was after he recieved the Pour le Mérite.



Bomber Leaders

Capt. Ernst Brandenburg awarded on -- 14 June 1917.
Capt. Alfred Keller awarded on -- 4 Dec. 1917.
Capt. Rudolf Kleine awarded on -- 4 Oct. 1917.
Capt. Hermann Köhl awarded on -- 20 May 1918.
Capt. Leo Leonhardy awarded on -- 2 Oct. 1918.



Observers

Oberlt. Hermann Fricke awarded on -- 23 Dec. 1917.
Leutnant Wilhelm Griebsch awarded on -- 30 Sept. 1918.
Capt. Jürgen von Grone awarded on -- 13 Oct. 1918.
Oberlt. Erich Homburg awarded on -- 13 Oct. 1918.
Oberlt. Hans-Georg Horn awarded on -- 23 Dec. 1917.
Lt. Albert Müller-Kahle awarded on -- 13 Oct. 1918.
Lt. Friedrich Nielebock awarded on -- 2 June 1918.
Oberlt. Paul Freiherr von Pechmann awarded on -- 31 July 1917.
Leutnant Wilhelm Paul Schreiber awarded on -- 8 June 1918.



Fighter Pilots

Leutnant Karl Allmenröder awarded on -- 14 June 1917. (30 victories)
Oberlt. Ernst Freiherr von Althaus awarded on -- 21 July 1916. (9 victories)
Leutnant Paul Bäumer awarded on -- 2 Nov. 1918. (43 victories)
Leutnant Freiherr von Beaulieu-Marconnay awarded on -- 26 Oct. 1918. (25 victories)
Oberlt. Otto Bernert awarded on -- 24 April 1917. (27 victories)
Oberlt. Hans Berr awarded on -- 4 Dec. 1916. (10 victories)
Oberlt. Rudolf Berthold awarded on -- 12 Oct. 1916. (44 victories)
Leutnant Walter Blume awarded on -- 30 Sept. 1918. (28 victories)
Leutnant Erwin Böhme awarded on -- 24 Mov. 1917. (24 victories)
Leutnant Oswald Boelcke awarded on -- 12 Jan. 1916. (40 victories)
Oberlt. Oskar Freiherr von Boenigk awarded on -- 25 Oct. 1918. (26 victories)
Leutnant Karl Bolle awarded on -- 28 Aug. 1918. (31 victories)
Leutnant Heindrich Bongartz awarded on -- 23 Dec. 1917. (33 victories)
Leutnant Julius Buckler awarded on -- 4 Dec. 1917. (35 victories)
Capt. Hans Joahim Buddecke awarded on -- 14 April 1916. (13 victories)
Leutnant Franz Büchner awarded on -- 25 Oct. 1918. (40 victories)
Leutnant Walter Bülow awarded on -- 8 Oct. 1917. (28 victories)
Leutnant Carl Degelow awarded on -- 9 Nov. 1918. (30 victories)
Leutnant Albert Dossenbach awarded on -- 11 Nov. 1916. (15 victories)
Oberlt Eduard Ritter von Dostler awarded on -- 6 Aug. 1917. (26 victories)
Leutnant Wilhelm Frankl awarded on -- 12 Aug. 1916. (19 victories)
Oberlt. Hermann Göring awarded on -- 2 June 1918. (22 victories)
Leutnant Heinrich Gontermann awarded on -- 14 May 1917. (39 victories)
Oberlt. Robert Ritter von Griem awarded on -- 8 Oct. 1918. (25 victories)
Leutnant Walter Höhndorf awarded on -- 20 July 1916. (12 victories)
Leutnant Max Immelmann awarded on -- 12 Jan. 1916. (15 victories)
Leutnant Josef Jacobs awarded on -- 18 July 1918. (41 victories)
Leutnant Hans Kirschstein awarded on -- 24 June 1918. (27 victories)
Leutnant Otto Kissenberth awarded on -- 30 June 1918. (19 victories)
Leutnant Hans Klein awarded on -- 4 Dec. 1917. (22 victories)
Leutnant Otto Könnecke awarded on -- 26 Sept 1918. (33 victories)
Leutnant Heinrich Kroll awarded on -- 29 March 1918. (30 victories)
Leutnant Artur Laumann awarded on -- 25 Oct. 1918. (26 victories)
Leutnant Gustav Leffers awarded on -- 5 Nov. 1916. (9 victories)
Oberlt. Bruno Loerzer awarded on -- 12 Feb. 1918. (41 victories)
Leutnant Erich Lowenhardt awarded on -- 31 May 1918 (53 victories)
Capt. Carl Menckhoff awarded on -- 23 April 1918. (39 victories)
Oberlt. Max Ritter von Müller awarded on -- 3 Sept. 1917. (36 victories)
Leutnant Max Ritter von Mulzer awarded on -- 8 July 1916. (10 victories)
Leutnant Ulrich Neckel awarded on -- 8 Nov. 1918. (30 victories)
Leutnant Otto Parschau awarded on -- 10 July 1916. (8 victories)
Leutnant Fritz Pütter awarded on -- 31 May 1918. (25 victories)
Leutnant Lothar Freiherr von Richthofen awarded on -- 14 May 1917. (40 victories)
Leutnant Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen awarded on -- 12 Jan. 1917. (80 victories)
Leutnant Fritz Ritter von Röth awarded on -- 8 Sept. 1918. (28 victories)
Leutnant Fritz Rumey awarded on -- 10 July 1918. (45 victories)
Leutnant Karl-Emil Schaefer awarded on -- 26 April 1917. (30 victories)
Oberlt. Eduard Ritter von Schleich awarded on -- 4 Dec. 1917. (35 victories)
Leutnant Karl Thom awarded on -- 1 Nov. 1918. (27 victories)
Leutnant Emil Thuy awarded on -- 30 June 1918. (32 victories)
Oberlt. Adolf Ritter von Tutschek awarded on -- 3 Aug. 1917. (27 victories)
Leutnant Ernst Udet awarded on -- 9 April 1918. (62 victories)
Leutnant Josef Veltjens awarded on -- 16 Aug. 1918. (34 victories)
Leutnant Werner Voss awarded on -- 8 April 1917. (48 victories)
Capt. Franz Walz awarded on -- 9 Aug. 1918. (7 victories)
Leutnant Rudolf Windisch awarded on -- 6 June 1918. (22 victories)
Leutnant Kurt Wintgens awarded on -- 1 July 1916. (18 victories)
Oberlt. Kurt Wolff awarded on -- 4 May 1917. (33 victories)
Leutnant Kurt Wüsthoff awarded on --- 22 Nov. 1917. (27 victories)

*** Not all pilots were part of the Air Service. Some were in the Navy. ***

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Max must have won it because the cards he has produced are responsible for shooting down a lot more planes than that.
Kyte.

[Attila57]

[QUOTE=gully_raker;101537] Morning All!
Here is a lovely pic of a Blue Max you might enjoy.

An interesting bit of Blue Max Trivia:
Have you ever wondered why a German Medal is inscribed in French?
Well it seems that the Official language of the Prussan Court was French, hence the inscription in French!
[QUOTE]

From: http://www.firstworldwar.com/atoz/pourlemerite.htm

Although it may sound incongruous Germany's highest military medal awarded during World War One was the decidedly French sounding Pour le Merite (also known the as 'The Blue Max').
The award dates back to 1667 when, in the German state of Brandenburg, the Ordre de la Generosite - the Order of Generosity - was created by Frederick William I. Given that French was the language of the royal court the naming of the merit award would have appeared a natural choice.

[Ravenlord]

You are right Attilio, it is told that the "old Fritz" speaks a better french than german.

Matthias

[Ravenlord]

In WWI, it was initially awarded after 8 aerial victories. Max Immelmann and Oswald Boelke were the first airmen to receive the award on January 12, 1916. Richthoffen did not receive it until after his 16th victory due to the minimum number of aerial victories being increased, as more and more aerial combats took place, and the number of aerial victories increased, the minimum requirement also increased. 14 Pilots received the Award after only 8 Victories. Richthoffen recieved his after 16 victories. Oddly enough... he is the only one under the '16 victory requirement'. The next to received the award for aerial victories was Warner Voss on 8 Aprill, 1917. He had to wait for his 25th victory. Although the standard had been raised to 20, many recipients did not receive the award until they had well surpassed the minimum number.

Not all recipients where Fighter pilots. Some received the award, not for Aerial Victories, but for recognition of other distinguished actions, or service.

The list below are the Air Service Recipients:

(Source: http://www.pourlemerite.org/ )

No one in the air service received Oakleaves even though Manfred von Richthofen was considered for the award. It was to General Ludendorff's surprise that he did not receive the award. The two highest ranking officers in the air service were also passed over for this recognition unlike their counterparts in the other services, the army and navy. General Leutnant Ernst Wilhelm von Hoeppner and his Chief of Staff, Leutnant Colonel Thomsen were resented and criticized for receiving their Pour le Mérite awards by junior officers due the fact they were in a non-combat leadership positions. They were the only high ranking non-combat officers to receive the award in the air service, and it seems that they were placed in the difficult position of being compared with men that flew machines that were considered dangerous and unstable and chanced losing their lives every time they went out on a mission. It was difficult to be compared with heroes like Werner Voss and Ernst Udet.

Commanding General

Chief of the Air Service Gen. Ernst von Hoeppner awarded on -- 8 April 1917.



Chief of Staff

Chief of Staff of the Air Service Lt. Col. Hermann Thomsen awarded on -- 8 April 1917. He later adopted the last name of von der Lieth-Thomsen, but that was after he recieved the Pour le Mérite.



Bomber Leaders

Capt. Ernst Brandenburg awarded on -- 14 June 1917.
Capt. Alfred Keller awarded on -- 4 Dec. 1917.
Capt. Rudolf Kleine awarded on -- 4 Oct. 1917.
Capt. Hermann Köhl awarded on -- 20 May 1918.
Capt. Leo Leonhardy awarded on -- 2 Oct. 1918.



Observers

Oberlt. Hermann Fricke awarded on -- 23 Dec. 1917.
Leutnant Wilhelm Griebsch awarded on -- 30 Sept. 1918.
Capt. Jürgen von Grone awarded on -- 13 Oct. 1918.
Oberlt. Erich Homburg awarded on -- 13 Oct. 1918.
Oberlt. Hans-Georg Horn awarded on -- 23 Dec. 1917.
Lt. Albert Müller-Kahle awarded on -- 13 Oct. 1918.
Lt. Friedrich Nielebock awarded on -- 2 June 1918.
Oberlt. Paul Freiherr von Pechmann awarded on -- 31 July 1917.
Leutnant Wilhelm Paul Schreiber awarded on -- 8 June 1918.



Fighter Pilots

Leutnant Karl Allmenröder awarded on -- 14 June 1917. (30 victories)
Oberlt. Ernst Freiherr von Althaus awarded on -- 21 July 1916. (9 victories)
Leutnant Paul Bäumer awarded on -- 2 Nov. 1918. (43 victories)
Leutnant Freiherr von Beaulieu-Marconnay awarded on -- 26 Oct. 1918. (25 victories)
Oberlt. Otto Bernert awarded on -- 24 April 1917. (27 victories)
Oberlt. Hans Berr awarded on -- 4 Dec. 1916. (10 victories)
Oberlt. Rudolf Berthold awarded on -- 12 Oct. 1916. (44 victories)
Leutnant Walter Blume awarded on -- 30 Sept. 1918. (28 victories)
Leutnant Erwin Böhme awarded on -- 24 Mov. 1917. (24 victories)
Leutnant Oswald Boelcke awarded on -- 12 Jan. 1916. (40 victories)
Oberlt. Oskar Freiherr von Boenigk awarded on -- 25 Oct. 1918. (26 victories)
Leutnant Karl Bolle awarded on -- 28 Aug. 1918. (31 victories)
Leutnant Heindrich Bongartz awarded on -- 23 Dec. 1917. (33 victories)
Leutnant Julius Buckler awarded on -- 4 Dec. 1917. (35 victories)
Capt. Hans Joahim Buddecke awarded on -- 14 April 1916. (13 victories)
Leutnant Franz Büchner awarded on -- 25 Oct. 1918. (40 victories)
Leutnant Walter Bülow awarded on -- 8 Oct. 1917. (28 victories)
Leutnant Carl Degelow awarded on -- 9 Nov. 1918. (30 victories)
Leutnant Albert Dossenbach awarded on -- 11 Nov. 1916. (15 victories)
Oberlt Eduard Ritter von Dostler awarded on -- 6 Aug. 1917. (26 victories)
Leutnant Wilhelm Frankl awarded on -- 12 Aug. 1916. (19 victories)
Oberlt. Hermann Göring awarded on -- 2 June 1918. (22 victories)
Leutnant Heinrich Gontermann awarded on -- 14 May 1917. (39 victories)
Oberlt. Robert Ritter von Griem awarded on -- 8 Oct. 1918. (25 victories)
Leutnant Walter Höhndorf awarded on -- 20 July 1916. (12 victories)
Leutnant Max Immelmann awarded on -- 12 Jan. 1916. (15 victories)
Leutnant Josef Jacobs awarded on -- 18 July 1918. (41 victories)
Leutnant Hans Kirschstein awarded on -- 24 June 1918. (27 victories)
Leutnant Otto Kissenberth awarded on -- 30 June 1918. (19 victories)
Leutnant Hans Klein awarded on -- 4 Dec. 1917. (22 victories)
Leutnant Otto Könnecke awarded on -- 26 Sept 1918. (33 victories)
Leutnant Heinrich Kroll awarded on -- 29 March 1918. (30 victories)
Leutnant Artur Laumann awarded on -- 25 Oct. 1918. (26 victories)
Leutnant Gustav Leffers awarded on -- 5 Nov. 1916. (9 victories)
Oberlt. Bruno Loerzer awarded on -- 12 Feb. 1918. (41 victories)
Leutnant Erich Lowenhardt awarded on -- 31 May 1918 (53 victories)
Capt. Carl Menckhoff awarded on -- 23 April 1918. (39 victories)
Oberlt. Max Ritter von Müller awarded on -- 3 Sept. 1917. (36 victories)
Leutnant Max Ritter von Mulzer awarded on -- 8 July 1916. (10 victories)
Leutnant Ulrich Neckel awarded on -- 8 Nov. 1918. (30 victories)
Leutnant Otto Parschau awarded on -- 10 July 1916. (8 victories)
Leutnant Fritz Pütter awarded on -- 31 May 1918. (25 victories)
Leutnant Lothar Freiherr von Richthofen awarded on -- 14 May 1917. (40 victories)
Leutnant Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen awarded on -- 12 Jan. 1917. (80 victories)
Leutnant Fritz Ritter von Röth awarded on -- 8 Sept. 1918. (28 victories)
Leutnant Fritz Rumey awarded on -- 10 July 1918. (45 victories)
Leutnant Karl-Emil Schaefer awarded on -- 26 April 1917. (30 victories)
Oberlt. Eduard Ritter von Schleich awarded on -- 4 Dec. 1917. (35 victories)
Leutnant Karl Thom awarded on -- 1 Nov. 1918. (27 victories)
Leutnant Emil Thuy awarded on -- 30 June 1918. (32 victories)
Oberlt. Adolf Ritter von Tutschek awarded on -- 3 Aug. 1917. (27 victories)
Leutnant Ernst Udet awarded on -- 9 April 1918. (62 victories)
Leutnant Josef Veltjens awarded on -- 16 Aug. 1918. (34 victories)
Leutnant Werner Voss awarded on -- 8 April 1917. (48 victories)
Capt. Franz Walz awarded on -- 9 Aug. 1918. (7 victories)
Leutnant Rudolf Windisch awarded on -- 6 June 1918. (22 victories)
Leutnant Kurt Wintgens awarded on -- 1 July 1916. (18 victories)
Oberlt. Kurt Wolff awarded on -- 4 May 1917. (33 victories)
Leutnant Kurt Wüsthoff awarded on --- 22 Nov. 1917. (27 victories)

*** Not all pilots were part of the Air Service. Some were in the Navy. ***

Nice link!

Of special interrest is that Leutnant Wilhelm Frankl awarded on -- 12 Aug. 1916. (19 victories), a jewish Ace was stricken from the german ace-list and the list of pour le merite-recipients by the nazi-government and was nearly forgotten. After WWII he was affiliated back to the lists.

Matthias

[Willi Von Klugermann]

Thanks for the info guys. Very informative.