Dr. Justinian Jampol, founder and executive director of The Wende Museum, has received the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesverdienstkreuz).
“It’s really one of the great privileges of a lifetime to have this medal bestowed on me… I invited all of you here personally, to share this moment with you…It’s the most amazing honor. It’s really a celebration of The Wende Museum, this crazy idea that’s been [carrying on ] for 25 years.”
Dr. Wolfram Weimer, Germany’s Minister of State for Culture and the Media, presented the decoration on Tuesday, October 20, at Villa Aurora in Los Angeles.
The Cross of the Order of Merit is the German government’s highest award, given to German citizens as well as foreigners for outstanding service in the political, economic, social or intellectual fields.
Jampol received the honor for his contributions to preserving and interpreting historical collections through his work with The Wende Museum. His dedication to preserving cultural heritage moved beyond the museum’s walls during the January 2025 Palisades Fire, when the Wende Museum helped save items from Villa Aurora, the historic Los Angeles residence and cultural center for German and Austrian exiles.
Among the rescued objects were a portrait of Marta Feuchtwanger and a parchment scroll recounting the biblical story of Queen Esther.
“I am deeply touched to receive this honor from Germany. Preserving history has been a central part of my life for so many years, and I have been privileged to share that work with an extraordinary community of colleagues, friends, and partners,” said Jampol. “Through the Wende Museum, we have worked together to preserve important histories, encourage curiosity, and create opportunities for people to engage with the past. The friendships and relationships that have developed along the way have meant an enormous amount to me, and I am especially grateful to have this work recognized in such a meaningful way.”
Following the presentation at Villa Aurora, a reception celebrating Jampol and his award was held at the home of Nicolas Berggruen. The reception was hosted by Dr. Peter Baldwin (Co-Founder and Chair, Arcadia Fund), Nicolas Berggruen (Founder and Chairman, Berggruen Institute), the Hon. John Emerson (Former United States Ambassador to Germany), Dr. Katherine E. Fleming (President and Chief Executive Officer, J. Paul Getty Trust), and Lynda Resnick (Vice Chair and Co-Owner, The Wonderful Company). Also attending were Culver City Mayor Freddy Puza, City Council member Dan O’Brien and his wife Beverly, and former Mayor Thomas Small.
“Through the fires, and all the tragedy, we were honored to [assist in transporting and caring for] the artwork of the Villa Aurora,” Jampol noted.
Pivoting from his serious remarks into a playful moment, he concluded with bringing out dozens of red balloons for the crowd to keep up in the air while Nena’s famous song from 1993, “99 Luftballoons” played over the lawn. More than a few medals bounced mischievously while red balloons were scooped up and tossed from hand to hand.
“Wende,” a German word meaning “turning point” or “transformation,” reflects the origins of the museum and the collection. It also points to the institution’s broader mission: to illuminate historical moments of change and bring them into contemporary conversation.
Judith Martin-Straw
Dr. Justinian Jampol and Dr. Wolfram Weimer. Photo credit: Aaron Perez/Villa Aurora
