Croix de Guerre

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The Croix de Guerre (French: [kʁwa ɡɛʁ], Cross of War) is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts; the croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures ("cross of war for external theatres of operations") was established in 1921 for these. The Croix de Guerre was also commonly bestowed on foreign military forces allied to France.[1]

Quick facts: Croix de Guerre, Type, Awarded for, Descripti...
Croix de Guerre
Croix-De-Guerre-Francis-Browne.jpg
Type
  • Military decoration (four class decoration)
  • Four degrees:
  • Croix de Guerre with Bronze Palm
  • Croix de Guerre with Gold Star
  • Croix de Guerre
  • Croix de Guerre with Bronze Star
Awarded forIndividuals who distinguish themselves by acts of heroism involving combat with enemy forces
DescriptionA bronze cross with swords
Presented byFlag_of_France.svg France
EligibilityMilitary personnel only, often bestowed to members of allied countries
Campaign(s)
  • World War I
  • World War II
  • Other wars not fought on French soil
ClaspsNone for wars or campaigns; stars and palm denote level of each medal awarded
StatusActive
EstablishedApril 2, 1915
  • CroixdeGuerreFR-BronzePalm.png
  • Croix_de_guerre_1939-1945_with_palm_%28France%29_-_ribbon_bar.png
  • Streamer_FCDG_WWII.png
  • Croix de Guerre avec Palme ribbon bars and streamer
  • (1914–1918 & 1939–1945)
Close

The Croix de Guerre may be awarded either as an individual award or as a unit award to those soldiers who distinguish themselves by acts of heroism involving combat with the enemy. The medal is awarded to those who have been "mentioned in dispatches", meaning a heroic deed or deeds were performed meriting a citation from an individual's headquarters unit. The unit award of the Croix de Guerre with palm was issued to military units whose members performed heroic deeds in combat and were subsequently recognized by headquarters.