Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 |
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Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 with 2 silver-gilt (gold) stars
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| Type | Bravery award |
| Awarded for | Military duty during World War II mentioned in dispatches |
| Status | No longer awarded |
| Clasps | silver-gilt palm silver palm bronze palm silver-gilt star silver star bronze star |
| Statistics | |
| Established | 26 September 1939 |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Croix de guerre 1914–1918 |
| Next (lower) | Croix de Guerre TOE |
  Ribbon bar & streamer of the French Croix de guerre 1939–1945 |
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The Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (which means "War Cross 1939–1945" in English) is a special French military award. It was created on September 26, 1939. This award honors people who bravely fought alongside the Allied forces against the Axis powers during World War II.
After Germany took over most of France in 1940, a different French government, called Vichy France, tried to replace this award. They made their own "War Cross" with a black and green ribbon. However, the original Croix de Guerre was still used by the Free French forces who continued to fight. Today, only the original Croix de Guerre with its red and green ribbon is officially recognized by the French government.
Contents
What is the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 for?
This award was given to soldiers who showed great bravery during World War II. Because the war was so big, many different groups and places were included. People could receive the award for fighting in:
- The Battle of France
- The French Forces of the Interior (these were resistance fighters in France)
- The Free French Forces (French soldiers who continued fighting outside of occupied France)
- The Western Front (the main battle line in Western Europe)
- The Middle East Theater
- The Mediterranean Theater
- The African campaigns
About the Medal and Ribbon
The Medal Itself
The Croix de Guerre medal was designed by a sculptor named Paul-Albert Bartholomé. It is about 37 millimeters (1.5 inches) wide. The medal looks like a Maltese cross with two swords crossed behind it. In the very middle of the front, you can see a picture of the French Republic, wearing a special hat called a Phrygian cap. Around this picture, it says "République française" (which means "French Republic"). On the back of the medal, you will see the dates of the war: 1939–1940, 1939–1945, or sometimes just 1940.
The Ribbon
The ribbon that holds the medal is red. It has four green stripes running down its center.
Special Devices on the Ribbon
Every Croix de Guerre medal and ribbon has at least one special device attached to it. These devices are either shaped like a small palm leaf or a star. They can be made of bronze, silver, or silver-gilt (which is silver covered with a thin layer of gold). These devices show how important the brave act was. You can have many devices on your Croix de Guerre ribbon.
Award Levels and What They Mean
The different stars and palms on the ribbon show how high the honor is. The lowest level is a bronze star, and the highest is a silver-gilt palm.
Bronze star (étoile en bronze): This is for soldiers who were recognized for their bravery at the regiment or brigade level.
Silver star (étoile en argent): This is for those recognized at the division level.
Silver-gilt star (étoile en vermeil): This is for soldiers recognized at the corps level.
Bronze palm (palme en bronze): This is for those recognized at the army level.
Silver palm (palme en argent): This palm means someone has earned five bronze palms.
Silver-gilt palm (palme en vermeil): This is the highest level, given for bravery recognized by the Free French Forces during World War II.
These awards are given for brave actions to any member of the French military or their allies. They are similar to the U.S. Bronze Star Medal and Silver Star or the UK Military Cross and Military Medal.
The Vichy France Version
After Germany took over France in May 1940, a different French government, known as Vichy France, worked with the Germans. This government created its own versions of the Croix de Guerre during World War II. These medals used a black and green ribbon instead of the original red and green.
However, the Free French government and the French government after the war did not recognize these Vichy awards. It is even illegal to wear them in France today. The Vichy Croix de Guerre had similar levels of awards as the official one, but it did not include the highest gilt palm.
| Ribbon | Awards |
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Croix de guerre (from Vichy France; for World War II service) |
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Croix de guerre de la Légion des Volontaires Français (for fighting on the Eastern Front in World War II) |
Famous People Who Received the Award (Non-French)
Many brave people from other countries also received the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945. Some of them include:
- Omar Bradley
- Joseph Collins
- Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.
- Strom Thurmond
- Frantz Fanon
- Virginia Hall
- Courtney Hodges
- Lyman Lemnitzer
- Robert Mellard
- Audie Murphy
- Richard Winters
- George S. Patton, Jr.
- Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
- Rainier III, Prince of Monaco
- Douglas MacArthur
- Matthew Ridgway
- James Stewart
- Maxwell Taylor
- Paul F. Warburg
- William Westmoreland
- Earle Wheeler
- Tommy Yeo-Thomas
- Draža Mihajlović
- Malcolm Muggeridge
- Joseph Wolhandler
See also
In Spanish: Croix de guerre 1939-1945 para niños
- Ribbons of the French military and civil awards
- Croix de guerre 1914–1918
- Croix de Guerre (Belgium)
