Croix de Guerre 1939–1945

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Template:Short description Template:Italic title Template:Short descriptionScript error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". The Script error: No such module "Lang". 1939–1945 (English: War Cross 1939–1945) is a French military decoration, a version of the Script error: No such module "Lang". created on 26 September 1939 to honour people who fought with the Allies against the Axis forces at any time during World War II. After Germany invaded and overran mainland France in the Battle of France in May and June 1940, this Script error: No such module "Lang". was replaced by the pro-Axis Vichy French government with another Croix with a black-and-green ribbon, while the original was upheld by Free France. Since the triumph of the Free French side in World War II, this version is the only one officially recognized by the French government.

Award statute

Due to the large extent of the war zone, recipients included those who fought during, with, at, or in the following:[1]

Award description

Medal

The Script error: No such module "Lang". was designed by the sculptor Paul-Albert Bartholomé. The medal is Script error: No such module "convert". in size and is in the shape of a Maltese cross with two swords criss-crossed through the center. In the center of the front is the profile of the French Republic crested by a Phrygian cap. Around this portrait, are the words République française ("French Republic"). On the reverse of the medal are the dates of the conflict : 1939–1940, 1939–1945, or simply 1940.[1]

Ribbon

File:Croix de Guerre 1939-1945 ribbon.svg The suspension and service ribbon of the medal has a red background crossed with four green lines in its center.[2]

Devices

On every medal and ribbon, there is at least one ribbon device, either in the shape of a palm or of a star, and fashioned from either bronze, silver, or silver-gilt (vermeil). The relative importance of the six possible combinations is detailed below. The total number of devices on a "Croix de Guerre" is not limited.

Award grades

File:Croix de Guerre 1939 France REVERS.jpg
Reverse of the 1939–1945 War Cross

Mentioned in Despatches

The lowest degree is represented by a bronze star while the highest degree is represented by a bronze palm:[2]

The clasps are awarded for gallantry to any member of the French military or its allies and are, depending on the degree, roughly the equivalent to the U.S. Bronze Star and Silver Star or UK Military Cross and Military Medal.

Vichy France version

Following the German invasion and occupation of France in May 1940, the French collaborationist government (Vichy France; officially called État français, the "French State") created two croix during World War II, both utilizing a black-and-green ribbon pattern instead of the original red-and-green. These croix were both disavowed by the Free French government and the postwar French government, and wearing them is illegal in France. The Vichy Script error: No such module "Lang". employed the same tiered citations for the award as the officially-recognised version, excluding the added gilt palm.

Ribbon Awards
File:Croix de Guerre Vichy ribbon.svg Script error: No such module "Lang". (Vichy France; for World War II service)
File:Croix de Guerre Vichy LVF ribbon.svg Croix de guerre de la Légion des Volontaires Français (for Eastern Front World War II service)

Notable non-French recipients

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See also

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References

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Template:French medals

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