Order of Merit of Berlin

The Order of Merit of Berlin (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. As of 2011 the order had only been awarded 359 times.

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.

Notable recipients

 * Franziska van Almsick
 * Stefan Arndt
 * Vladimir Ashkenazy
 * Seyran Ateş
 * Hani Azer
 * Marianne Birthler
 * Eberhard Diepgen
 * Paul van Dyk
 * Klaus and Eva Herlitz
 * Don Jackson
 * Lena Schöneborn
 * Judy Winter
 * Jenny Wolf
 * Walter H. Yates, Jr.
 * Heinz Dürr