Order of Merit of Berlin
{{infobox order
| name = Decoration of Merit
| image = 200px
| caption =
| awarded_by = the Senate of Berlin
| country = Germany
| type = Civil order of merit
| eligibility =
| for = Outstanding contributions to the state of Berlin
| campaign =
| status =
| description =
| motto =
| clasps =
| post-nominals =
| established = 21 July 1987
| first_award =
| last_award =
| total = 431
| posthumous =
| recipients =
| precedence_label =
| grades = Member
|head_title = Grand Master
|head = Michael Müller
| individual =
| higher =
| same =
| lower =
| related =
| image2 = 100px
| caption2 = Ribbon bar of the order
}}
The Order of Merit of Berlin ({{langx|de|Verdienstorden des Landes Berlin}}) is this highest award of the German State of Berlin. Awarded in the name of the Senate of Berlin, the order had recognized outstanding contributions to the State of Berlin since 21 July 1987. Awarded each year on 1 October, the anniversary of the Berlin Constitution, the order is limited to no more than 400 living recipients.{{cite web |url=http://www.berlin.de/rbmskzl/regierender-buergermeister/auszeichnungen-und-ehrungen/verdienstorden-des-landes-berlin/artikel.6759.php |title=Verdienstorden des Landes Berlin |trans-title=Orders of Merit of Berlin |language=de |publisher=Landes Berlin |access-date=2015-10-30}} As of 2016 the order had been awarded 431 times, to 152 women and 279 men.{{cite web |url=http://ordensmuseum.de/landesverdienstorden/der-verdienstorden-des-landes-berlin/ |title=Der Verdienstorden des Landes Berlin |publisher=Ordensmuseum.de |language=de |access-date=2015-10-30}}
Design of the order
The Order of Merit of Berlin is awarded in a single class. The badge of the order is a white enamel Maltese cross edged in red. In the center of the cross is a depiction of the golden crowned Coat of arms of Berlin surrounded by a gold wreath. It is worn around the neck on a white ribbon with red edges.{{cite web|title=Verwaltungsvorschriften zur Verleihung des Verdienstordens des Landes Berlin|url=http://www.berlin.de/imperia/md/content/rbm-skzl/ehrungen/051001_verwaltungsvorschriften_zur_verleihung_des_verdienstordens_des_landes_berlin.pdf?start&ts=1211188605&file=051001_verwaltungsvorschriften_zur_verleihung_des_verdienstordens_des_landes_berlin.pdf|work=berlin.de|access-date=5 April 2012|language=de|date=4 October 2005|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304135148/http://www.berlin.de/imperia/md/content/rbm-skzl/ehrungen/051001_verwaltungsvorschriften_zur_verleihung_des_verdienstordens_des_landes_berlin.pdf?start&ts=1211188605&file=051001_verwaltungsvorschriften_zur_verleihung_des_verdienstordens_des_landes_berlin.pdf|url-status=dead}}
Notable recipients
See also
- List of Holders of the Order of Merit of Berlin (German Wikipedia)
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Orders of merit of Germany}}