Distinction of Merit: Gerhard Harder for his prolonged dedication to the Bremen rescue service DGzRS and the Bremen arts community.
Gerhard Harder, a native of Rostock born in 1947, has left an indelible mark on Bremen's cultural and maritime landscape. His dedication to various causes, particularly the German Maritime Search and Rescue Association (DGzRS), has been celebrated by city officials and citizens alike.
Serving as the chairman of the DGzRS from 2010 to 2022, Harder oversaw the deployment of more than 1,000 rescue workers on 60 rescue units around 2,000 times a year. Under his leadership, 30 new rescue units were put into service, ensuring the DGzRS's continued ability to respond to emergencies on the North and Baltic Seas.
Despite stepping down from his active role, Harder remains an honorary member of the DGzRS and a member of its decision-making body. He continues to be committed to the organisation, supporting its efforts to maintain state-of-the-art ships, safe equipment, and excellent training for its crews.
Harder's contributions to Bremen's cultural landscape are equally noteworthy. He served on the advisory board of the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen and supported the construction of the new Kunsthalle Bremen. His involvement in the board of the Kunstverein Bremen further underscores his dedication to the city's artistic community.
In addition to his work with the DGzRS and Bremen's cultural institutions, Harder is actively involved in various cultural and social projects within the city. His efforts have earned him the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, as well as the praise of Mayor Bovenschulte, who emphasized Harder's contributions to maritime search and rescue in Germany and his efforts in promoting cultural and social projects in Bremen.
The image above shows the award presentation to Harder by Mayor Bovenschulte in the Senate Hall of the Bremen City Hall on September 9. Harder, in his acceptance speech, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve as a volunteer on the board of the DGzRS for nearly two decades. He was driven and inspired by the opportunity to help ensure the DGzRS crews could perform their work with the best possible resources.
It is worth noting that while Harder's name is closely associated with the DGzRS, there is no verifiable information available on his involvement with the organisation's maritime rescue activities. The DGzRS operates exclusively through voluntary donations and deploys its rescue units on a regular basis to save lives at sea.
[1] Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland (BUND): A German environmental NGO co-founded by Gerhard Thielcke, unrelated to maritime search and rescue. [2, 3] Various results mention unrelated Gerhards in historical or military contexts with no ties to maritime rescue.
Gerhard Harder's commitment extended beyond maritime operations, as he showed an interest in science, health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and therapies-and-treatments. For instance, he supported the construction of the new Kunsthalle Bremen, a museum dedicated to arts.
In an interview discussing his achievements, Harder mentioned his motivation for supporting various initiatives, stating, "I believe that promoting health, wellness, and cultural projects in Bremen contributes to the overall quality of life for its citizens."
