Order of Merit of the State of Berlin

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Obverse of the Berlin Order of Merit (graphic representation)

The Order of Merit of the State of Berlin was donated by the Senate of Berlin on the occasion of Berlin's 750th anniversary on July 21, 1987. It is considered to be the highest award of the State of Berlin , with which people are honored who have made a special contribution to Berlin.

The Governing Mayor of Berlin is entitled to make proposals ; suggestions come from the President of the House of Representatives and the members of the Berlin Senate . The “ General Instructions on the Foundation of the Order of Merit of the State of Berlin ” describes the order as a “ white-enamelled eight-pointed cross with a red border and a bear on a silver coat of arms in the middle ”. The award of the order always takes place on October 1st of each year in the Great Hall of the Berlin City Hall , with around ten to fifteen people being honored by the Governing Mayor. In addition to the families of those to be honored, the previous bearers of the order, living honorary citizens of Berlin and other personalities from politics, business, culture and the media are invited to this ceremony . October 1st is a special day in the history of Berlin in two respects: On October 1st, 1920, through the amalgamation of many cities and municipalities, the united community of Greater Berlin was created and after the Second World War, the Berlin constitution came into force on October 1st, 1950 . Therefore, October 1st is considered the official birthday of Berlin and is particularly suitable as a day for this award.

In total, there should never be more than 400 living bearers of the order, until the end of 2019 the order was awarded to 446 people, not all of whom are living anymore.

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. General instruction on the Foundation of the Order of Merit of the State of Berlin of July 21, 1987, § 3, Official Journal of the Berlin Senate, Part I, No. 15 of September 11, 1997
  2. General instruction on the Foundation of the Order of Merit of the State of Berlin of July 21, 1987, § 2, Official Journal of the Berlin Senate Part I, No. 15 of September 11, 1997