Bar to the Pour Le Merit

[Breguet]

Was there such a thing as a bar to the Blue Max ?

If not was it further embellished in any way (like the Knight's cross for instance where they might add diamonds, oakleaves, cross swords etc ???

[Immo_Frese]

There was an oakleaves-cluster for the PLM. But it was only awarded to high ranking officers and to important persons of high nobility. MvR was nominated for the oakleaves but the award was denied.

Those recipients who were stil alive 50 years after receiving the award, were honored by adding a golden crown to the PLM.

Immo

[Regulus]

Hi,

The lowest ranked officers I know of who received the Oakleaves were Major Wetzell on the 1st November 1917 who was serving as chief of operations of the Gen. staff of the Field Army in Italy for operations against this country and Major Graf zu Eulenburg on the 4th September 1918 who was serving as CO of the 1st Guard Reg. for actions at the Marne. Furthermore a number of Oberst (colonel and Lt.col) but most of them were generals, admirals and a number of crowned heads.

Best from Regulus

[AOK4]

Hello,

That's quite normal isn't it. Once you got a PlM, a promotion was very probabel, so by the time you could get the oakleaves, which were granted for normally really big achievements, you had advanced some ranks.
During 14-18 122 oakleaves were granted:
23 Army Commanders
36 Corps Generals
13 Divisional Generals
1 Brigade Commander
6 Regimental Commanders
21 Officers of a General Staff
2 higher Artillery Commanders
3 other high officers (Graf Haeseler, von Lettow-Vorbeck and Minister of War von Stein)

1 Grossadmiral
4 Admirals

9 Austrians
1 Bulgar (King)
1 Turk (Enver Pascha)

Greetings from Flanders,
Jan

How did it get the name "Blue Max"? ...... colour must have had something to do with it but were did the Max come from.

[Regulus]

Forgot this in the story. There were five persons that received the PlM twice that I know of, in fact it has all to do with the fact that they received the war and the peace class of the medal.

Concerning Blue Max, Blue refers indeed to the color and I think that Max might have something to do with the fact that is was the highest decoration in Germany. But for certain ? Sorry no.

Best from Regulus

[b_wilkin]

I think it is related with the award of Max Immelman. It should be checked.

Apart from the Oakleaves, one could also be awarded with a Gold Crown, which was worn between the PlM and its ribbon. It was awarded 50 years after the initial award of the PlM.

Also, before WW1, a Grand Cross Star for the PlM could be awarded. It is extremely scarce however.