Croix de guerre 1939-1945 (France) - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Croix de guerre 1939–1945 (French for "Cross of War") is a French military decoration

Military awards and decorations of France

-National orders:-Ministry orders:-Other civilian distinctions:-Military medals:-19th century:-1900-1914:-1st World War :-Between the two wars :-Second World War :-After 1945:-Ministry Orders:...

created on September 26, 1939, to honour people who fought with the Allies

Allies of World War II

The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...

against the Axis force at any time during World War II.

Recipients

The recipients were pretty various according to the large line of war zone :

the one who fought during the Battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
the one who fought with the French Forces of the Interior
French Forces of the Interior
The French Forces of the Interior refers to French resistance fighters in the later stages of World War II. Charles de Gaulle used it as a formal name for the resistance fighters. The change in designation of these groups to FFI occurred as France's status changed from that of an occupied nation...
the one who fought with the Free French Forces
Free French Forces
The Free French Forces were French partisans in World War II who decided to continue fighting against the forces of the Axis powers after the surrender of France and subsequent German occupation and, in the case of Vichy France, collaboration with the Germans.-Definition:In many sources, Free...
- on the Western Front
  Western Front (World War II)
  The Western Front of the European Theatre of World War II encompassed, Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and West Germany. The Western Front was marked by two phases of large-scale ground combat operations...
  
  ,
- on the Middle East Theatre
  Middle East Theatre of World War II
  The Middle East Theatre of World War II is defined largely by reference to the British Middle East Command, which controlled Allied forces in both Southwest Asia and eastern North Africa...
- on the Mediterranean Theatre
  Mediterranean Theatre of World War II
  The African, Mediterranean and Middle East theatres encompassed the naval, land, and air campaigns fought between the Allied and Axis forces in the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and Africa...
- during the African campaigns

On every "Croix de guerre", there is at least one mention, this one is awarded for gallantry to any member of the French military or its allies. The degree shows the importance of the former warriors role during the World War II : the lowest degree is represented by a bronze

Bronze

Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...

star while the highest degree is represented by a bronze palm. On a "Croix de guerre", the number of mentions are not limited.

Militaria insignia

Medal

The medal was designed by the sculptor Paul-Albert Bartholomé

Albert Bartholomé

Paul-Albert Bartholomé , was a French painter and sculptor and is inhumed in the 4th division of the Père Lachaise Cemetery.-Sculptures:...

. It is 37 mm large and there are four arms and two swords criss-crossed. In the center of the front side, is the profile of the French Republic crested by a Phrygian cap

Phrygian cap

The Phrygian cap is a soft conical cap with the top pulled forward, associated in antiquity with the inhabitants of Phrygia, a region of central Anatolia. In the western provinces of the Roman Empire it came to signify freedom and the pursuit of liberty, perhaps through a confusion with the pileus,...

. Around this portrait, are the words République française ("French Republic"). On the back of the medal, are the dates of the conflict : 1939–1940, 1939–1945, or simply 1940.

Ribbon

red on the back crossed with four green lines in its center.

Acknowledgements

Mentioned in Despatches : the lowest degree is represented by a bronze star while the highest degree is represented by a bronze palm
- a bronze star for those who had been mentioned at the regiment
  Regiment
  A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
  
  or brigade
  Brigade
  A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
  
  level.
- a silver star, for those who had been mentioned at the division
  Division (military)
  A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
  
  level.
- a silver-gilt star for those who had been mentioned at the corps level.
- a bronze palm for those who had been mentioned at the army level.
- a silver palm represents five bronze ones.
- a silver-gilt palm for those who had been mentioned at the Free French Forces
  Free French Forces
  The Free French Forces were French partisans in World War II who decided to continue fighting against the forces of the Axis powers after the surrender of France and subsequent German occupation and, in the case of Vichy France, collaboration with the Germans.-Definition:In many sources, Free...
  
  level (World War II only).

The mentions are awarded for gallantry to any member of the French military or its allies and are, depending on the degree, roughly the equivalent for U.S. Bronze Star

Bronze Star Medal

The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...

and Silver Star

Silver Star

The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....

or UK Military Cross

Military Cross

The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....

and Military Medal

Military Medal

The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....

Examples of translation from French
- étoile en argent = silver star
- palme en vermeil = silver-gilt palm

Recipients

Militaria insignia

Acknowledgements

See also