The "Blue Max" is among the most famous decorations of all time. It was Prussia's highest military award (begun in 1740), given not for individual acts of gallantry, but for repeated and continual gallantry in action.

Although the Pour le Mérite has a civilian version (still awarded to this day), it is almost considered to be an entirely different decoration. The award could be made with a golden oak leaves device on the suspension ring - a distinction added for exceptional merit, usually to recipients of high rank. There was also a Grand Cross of the order, but it was not used during World War I. There were 1,687 awarded during the First World War, 122 with oak leaves.

The Pour le Mérite was different than many bravery awards in that it could not be awarded posthumously. The recipient needed to be alive. Many German servicemen died while the paperwork for their Blue Max was being considered and as such were never 'credited' with the award even though they might have been had they lived.

Also, unlike other awards, the Pour le Mérite was to be worn whenever the recipient was in uniform and not just on dress occasions. 

von Bardeleben recipients of the Pour le Mérit include:  Christoph Ludwig v.B. (1740), Friedrich v.B. (1745), Heinrich Wilhelm v.B. (1756), Hans Melchior Ludwig v.B. (1786), Karl Siegism. Georg v.B. (1793), Heinrich Ferdinand v.B. (1794), Gustav Ludwig v.B. (1794), Ernst Wilhelm Christoph v.B. (18th cent.), and (pictured above) Karl Moritz Wilhelm v.B. (19th cent.)