The POUR le MERITE and Germany's First Aces Hardcover - 1984

Friendswood, Texas: Hackney Publishing Co., 1984. BB1 - A first edition (stated) hardcover book SIGNED by Clint R. Hackney Jr. on the title page in very good condition in good dust jacket that is mylar protected. Dust jacket has less than 1.5" tear on the front top right side and less than an inch tear on the front top left corner, wrinkling, chipping, and crease on the edges, corners and sides, scattered light scratches, rubbing, and scuffing, light tanning and shelf wear. Book bowed and lightly cocked, some bumped corners, some cover edgewear, scattered foxing and stains on the top page edges, lightly moisture soiled, light tanning and shelf wear. 9.25"x6.25", 288 pages. Satisfaction Guaranteed. The Pour le Mérite, also informally known as the "Blue Max", is an order of merit (German: Verdienstorden) established in 1740 by King Frederick II of Prussia. The Pour le Mérite was awarded as both a military and civil honour and ranked, along with the Order of the Black Eagle, the Order of the Red Eagle and the House Order of Hohenzollern, among the highest orders of merit in the Kingdom of Prussia. The order of merit was the highest royal Prussian order of bravery for officers of all ranks. The Pour le Mérite was awarded strictly as a recognition of extraordinary personal achievement, rather than as a general marker of social status or a courtesy-honour, although certain restrictions of social class and military rank were applied. The order was secular, and membership endured for the remaining lifetime of the recipient, unless renounced or revoked. New awards of the military class ceased with the end of the Prussian monarchy in November 1918. German author Ernst Jünger, who died in 1998, was the last living recipient of the military class award. A civil class for merits in sciences, humanities, and arts was established in 1842 by King Frederick William IV. The civil class was revived as an independent organization in 1923 (Pour le Mérite für Wissenschaften und Künste). Instead of the King of Prussia, the President of Germany acted as head of the order. After the Second World War, the civil class was re-established in 1952. This version of the Pour le Mérite is still active today. The Pour le Mérite is still an order into which a person is admitted into membership, like the United Kingdom's Order of the British Empire, and is not simply a medal or state decoration. . Signed by Author. First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good/Good. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.