Croix de Guerre facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This page is about a French military decoration. For the Belgian decoration known as the Croix de guerre or Oorlogskruis, see Croix de Guerre (Belgium).

Quick facts for kids Croix de Guerre


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
Eligibility	Military personnel only, often bestowed to members of allied countries
Awarded for	Individuals who distinguish themselves by acts of heroism involving combat with enemy forces
Campaign(s)	Other wars not fought on French soil
Status	Active
Description	A bronze cross with swords
Clasps	None for wars or campaigns; stars and palm denote level of each medal awarded
Statistics
Established	April 2, 1915
Croix de Guerre avec Palme ribbon bars and streamer (1914–1918 & 1939–1945)

The Croix de Guerre (pronounced "krwah duh gair"), which means Cross of War, is a special military decoration from France. It was first created in 1915. This award is a bronze cross with two crossed swords, hanging from a colorful ribbon.

The Croix de Guerre is given to soldiers who show great bravery in battle against an enemy. It can be given to an individual soldier or to an entire military unit. When a soldier receives it, it means they were "mentioned in dispatches". This means their heroic actions were officially recognized by their military leaders. The medal was first given out during World War I and again in World War II. It has also been awarded in other conflicts. Often, soldiers from countries allied with France also received this honor.

What the Croix de Guerre Looks Like
French Croix de Guerre Medals
Unit Awards for Bravery
United States Military and the Croix de Guerre
Brave Individuals Who Received the Croix de Guerre
- World War I Heroes
- World War II Heroes
Images for kids
See also

What the Croix de Guerre Looks Like

The exact look of the Croix de Guerre medal can be a little different. It depends on which country is giving the award and for which war. For example, France has separate medals for World War I and World War II.

When a military unit receives the Croix de Guerre, they are also awarded a fourragère. This is a braided cord that soldiers wear on their uniform shoulder. It shows that their unit has been recognized for its bravery.

Because the Croix de Guerre has been given out many times, and in different ways, some soldiers received it more than once. To keep track, their military records would specify which version they received, like "French Croix de Guerre (WWI)".

French Croix de Guerre Medals

French Croix de Guerre des TOE

In France, there are three main types of the Croix de Guerre medal:

Ribbon	Awarded For
	Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (for brave service in World War I)
	Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (for brave service in World War II)
	Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures (TOE), for wars fought outside France, not including World War I or II.

The Croix de Guerre was created by a law in 1915. It replaced an older system where heroic actions were just mentioned in official reports, without a medal. The sculptor Paul-André Bartholomé designed the medal. It shows the image of the French Republic.

The Croix de Guerre also has special pins on its ribbon. These pins show how important the "mention in dispatches" was. The higher the rank of the officer who recognized the heroic deed, the more important the pin:

A bronze star means the soldier was recognized at the regiment or brigade level.
A silver star means the recognition came from the division level.
A gold star means the recognition was from the corps level.
A bronze palm means the recognition was from the entire army.
A silver palm is given instead of five bronze palms.
A gold palm was used during World War II for recognition from the Free French Forces.

The French Croix de Guerre des TOE was created in 1921 for wars fought outside France. It was given during conflicts like the Indochina War and the Korean War. This is the only version of the Croix de Guerre that is still active today, though it hasn't been given out since the Kosovo War in 1999.

Unit Awards for Bravery

The coat of arms of Leuven, featuring a French Croix de Guerre

The Croix de Guerre can be awarded to military units, like a regiment or a battalion, for their collective bravery. When a unit receives this award, it is displayed on their flag. If a unit is recognized twice for its bravery, it receives the fourragère of the Croix de Guerre.

All soldiers in a unit that has earned the fourragère can wear it on their uniform. If a soldier was part of the unit when it earned the award, they can wear the fourragère for the rest of their military service. If they joined the unit later, they can only wear it while they are part of that unit.

Many units from other countries, like the British Army, also received the French Croix de Guerre. For example, the 2nd Battalion Devonshire Regiment of the British Army received it for their brave defense of Bois des Buttes in 1918.

United States Military and the Croix de Guerre

In the United States military, the Croix de Guerre is recognized as a foreign award. It can sometimes be difficult to confirm if a US veteran is entitled to this award. This is because the original award papers were often the only proof, and they weren't always added to permanent service records. Also, a fire in 1973 at the National Archives destroyed many World War II records.

However, unit awards can often be verified through official unit history records. For individual awards, French military records can be checked.

During World War I, the 104th Infantry Regiment of the 26th "Yankee" Division was the first American unit to be honored by a foreign country for bravery. In April 1918, they bravely fought off German attacks near Apremont. Their regimental flag was decorated with the Croix de Guerre in a special ceremony. Many individual soldiers from the 104th Infantry also received the award.

In World War II, the 320th Bombardment Group was the first American unit in that war to receive the Croix de Guerre with Palm. They earned it for their support of Allied operations in Italy. Other units, like the 440th AAA AW Battalion, also received the award for their actions in battles like the Battle of the Bulge.

Today, members of some US Army and Marine Corps units can wear the French fourragère if their unit earned it in World War I or II. However, it's considered a ceremonial award and isn't usually added to a soldier's official service record.

Some US units currently authorized to wear the French fourragère include:

US Army
- 2nd Infantry Division "Indianhead"
- 3rd Infantry Division "Marne Division"
- 4th Cavalry Regiment "Raiders"
- 16th Infantry Regiment
- 28th Infantry Regiment "Lions of Cantigny"
- 369th Infantry Regiment "Harlem Hellfighters"
- 371st Infantry Regiment (United States) "Red Hand Division" / "Buffalo Soldiers"
- 106th Cavalry Regiment
US Marine Corps
- 5th Marine Regiment "The Fighting Fifth"
- 6th Marine Regiment "The Fighting Sixth"
- 6th Machine Gun Battalion

Brave Individuals Who Received the Croix de Guerre

Many brave people have received the Croix de Guerre for their heroic actions. Here are just a few examples:

World War I Heroes

Henry Johnson and Needham Roberts: These two soldiers from the 369th Infantry Regiment, known as the Harlem Hellfighters, were the first Americans to receive the Croix de Guerre. Johnson earned a special citation and a golden palm for fighting off a German raiding party by himself.
Freddie Stowers: An American corporal who received the Medal of Honor in 1991 for his brave actions.
Millicent Armstrong: An Australian nurse who was awarded the Croix de Guerre for bravely rescuing wounded soldiers while under fire.
Eugene Bullard: The first African-American combat aviator, he was awarded the Croix de Guerre for his heroism in the 1916 battles around Verdun.
Cher Ami: This was a brave carrier pigeon! During World War I, Cher Ami carried a vital message across enemy lines, saving 194 American soldiers. Even though the pigeon was shot and badly injured, it completed its mission. Cher Ami was awarded the French Croix de Guerre with Palm for this heroic service.

World War II Heroes

Doughboys of the 369th Infantry Regiment after World War I with their Croix de Guerre medals

Josephine Baker: A famous American-born French dancer and singer. She received the Croix de Guerre for her important work in the French Resistance during World War II.
Samuel Beckett: A famous writer who was awarded the Croix de Guerre by General Charles de Gaulle in 1945.
Jacques Cousteau: The inventor of the aqualung and a famous underwater explorer. He also received the Croix de Guerre.
Dwight D. Eisenhower: The Supreme Allied Commander during the liberation of France, who later became a US President.
Virginia Hall: An American spy who worked in occupied France. The German Gestapo called her "the most dangerous of all Allied spies." She received the Croix de Guerre with Palm.
Audie Murphy: The most decorated US Army soldier of World War II. He received the French Croix de Guerre with Palm three times, along with many other medals.
Prince Philip: The husband of Queen Elizabeth II, he was awarded the Croix de Guerre in 1948 for his service in the Royal Navy.
James Stewart: A famous American actor and pilot. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre with Palm in 1944.

Colonel Jimmy Stewart being awarded the Croix de Guerre with Palm in 1944

Nancy Wake: An Allied servicewoman who was one of the most decorated of the war. She received the Croix de Guerre three times for her work with the French Resistance.
Major Richard D. Winters: A US Army officer known for his leadership in the 101st Airborne Division during World War II.