Bernhard Weiss Medal

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The Bernhard Weiß Medal is an honor given by a private association to members of the German Armed Forces or people who have a special relationship with them, who are committed or courageous in an outstanding way for the preservation of Jewish traditions as well as tolerance and understanding between the different cultures and religions have taken a stand against anti-Semitism and xenophobia.

Award

It was named after Bernhard Weiß (1880–1951), a deputy chief of police in Berlin during the Weimar Republic and an officer in the First World War . In 2007, the chairman of the Association of Jewish Soldiers (RjF) donated the Bernhard Weiß Medal on the occasion of the first anniversary of the foundation. The medal is awarded annually on the founding day.

Award winners

According to the proposal and resolution of the founding board of trustees of the foundation, the first prize winner was the chairman of the German Armed Forces Association (DBwV), Colonel Bernhard Gertz . Colonel Gertz, in his capacity as DBwV Federal Chairman and member of the Advisory Board for Internal Leadership at the Federal Ministry of Defense, was always a committed advocate of the liberal and pluralistic character of the Bundeswehr. He campaigned for the interests of minorities within the Bundeswehr, especially those of the Jewish soldiers.

The award to Colonel Gertz took place during the annual meeting of the RjF on 18./19. November 2007 in Berlin. The chairman of the Association of Jewish Soldiers, Captain Michael Berger, said in his laudation: "You are a committed advocate and defender of the principles of tolerance and understanding in the Bundeswehr .... These were also the principles that Bernhard Weiß represented."

The members of the foundation's board of trustees "Bernhard-Weiß-Medaille" expressed their intention to award the medal not only to prominent representatives, but above all to so-called average citizens and soldiers who set signals and with great commitment and with personal sacrifices for tolerance and take a stand against xenophobia . It is not primarily military leaders or politicians who should be honored, but rather the "little heroes" .

The second winner was the former Federal Defense Minister Peter Struck . He was praised by Charlotte Knobloch as a "man of action" who consistently takes action against right-wing extremists. They also called its bid for a NPD - prohibition , removal historically loaded namesake of army barracks and associations as well as the dismissal of General Reinhard Günzel .

The 2009 Bernhard Weiß Medal was awarded to the Defense Commissioner of the German Bundestag, Reinhold Robbe, for his commitment to tolerance and understanding between different cultures and religions and his courageous stand against anti-Semitism and xenophobia. In her laudation, the President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Dr. hc Charlotte Knobloch , the prominent position of the Armed Forces Commissioner within the German constitutional structure as a worldwide unique institution, which has proven itself as a great achievement of democracy also for protection against internal and external dangers, not least as an institution of dialogue. Reinhold Robbe made a decisive contribution to this, who took on his difficult task with an above-average degree of vigilance paired with a high level of social and emotional competence. As a conscientious guardian and a loyal contact person, he works for the benefit of the soldiers and is not afraid to put a finger in the wound and openly and clearly address problems such as right-wing extremist tendencies in the troops. Bernhard Weiß and Reinhold Robbe thus agreed in their service for democracy and their civic engagement. In his acceptance speech, Reinhold Robbe promised not to let up in his efforts to resolutely oppose anti-Semitic and right-wing extremist efforts in all areas of public life, including in the Bundeswehr.

In 2011, Lieutenant Colonel Peter Andreas Popp , staff officer at the Air Force Officers' School , received an award.

literature

"Used, betrayed, repudiated: Jewish soldiers have fought in German armies since the wars of freedom, tens of thousands died" for the fatherland. "Then the Nazis erased any memory of a legacy that refuted their racist worldview. But the Bundeswehr has the Jewish patriots in uniform rediscovered. "

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