Pour le Mérite

The Pour le Mérite, known informally as the Blue Max (German: Blauer Max), was the Kingdom of Prussia's highest military order for German soldiers from 1740 until the end of World War I in 1918.

The award was a blue-enameled Maltese Cross with eagles between the arms based on the symbol of the Johanniter Order, the Prussian royal cypher, and the French legend Pour le Mérite ("for Merit") arranged on the arms of the cross.

Pour le Mérite in The War That Came Early
The highest Germany military decoration in the previous war had the simple French name of Pour le Mérite, that is, For Merit. Therefore, Sarah Goldman was surprised when she first wore the yellow cloth "Star of David" that was mandatory for all Jews to be congratulated by an obvious veteran for her medal. When she asked what he meant, he pointed to the yellow star and said her "Pour le Sémite" punning on the award. After getting home, Sarah learned from her father that he had heard the same joke, making her think that not all Aryans accepted the anti-Semitic propaganda they heard.