Dutch Cross of Resistance facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dutch Cross of Resistance
The Dutch Cross of Resistance
Type	Civil decoration
Awarded for	Extreme bravery awarded to the Dutch Resistance
Status	No longer awarded
Statistics
Established	3 May 1946
Precedence
Next (higher)	Honorary Sabre
Next (lower)	Honorary Medal for Charitable Assistance
Ribbon bar of the Dutch Cross of Resistance

The Verzetskruis 1940–1945 (which means Cross of Resistance 1940–1945 in English) is a very special award from the Netherlands. It's given for amazing bravery. This award was created on May 3, 1946. It honors people who showed great courage. They resisted the enemies of the Netherlands during World War II. They also helped keep freedom alive. It is one of the highest honors you can receive in the Netherlands.

Why Was This Award Created?

Before the Netherlands became free in May 1945, the Dutch government was in London. This government had planned a system of awards. These awards were for both civilians and military members. They already had awards like the Military Order of William. They also created new ones such as the Bronze Lion and the Cross of Merit.

However, there was no special award for members of the Dutch resistance. These were brave people who secretly fought against the occupation. Other countries had already made awards for their resistance fighters. The Dutch government felt that resistance acts were unique. They decided to create a brand new award just for them.

During the war, every act of resistance was seen as equally important. Other countries had also honored the Dutch resistance. For example, the British gave the King's Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom. The American Medal of Freedom was also given. Queen Wilhelmina herself wanted the resistance's work to be recognized.

How Many Awards Were Given?

The Cross of Resistance was given out 95 times in total. Most of these awards, 93 of them, were given to resistance workers who had died. This means they received the award posthumously (after their death).

Out of these 93 awards:

• 85 went to Dutch heroes.
• 7 went to French heroes.
• 2 went to Belgian heroes.
• 1 was given to the Monument to the Jews killed during the Holocaust.

The cross came in two sizes. A smaller one (60x36 mm or 2.3x1.4 inches) was for those who survived. A larger one (80x48 mm or 3.1x1.8 inches) was for those who received it posthumously.

What Does the Cross Look Like?

The award is a bronze cross. It sits on a star that looks like it's made of flames. A royal crown is placed at the very top.

In the middle of the cross, you can see a picture of Saint George. He is shown killing a dragon. Saint George represents the Dutch Resistance. The dragon stands for the Nazis, who occupied the Netherlands.

On the arms of the cross, there is an important message. It says "TROUW TOT IN DEN DOOD". This means "Loyal to death". On the back of the cross, there is a flaming sword. This sword is breaking a chain in two. This symbolizes breaking free from oppression.

The cross hangs from a crimson (deep red) ribbon. There is an orange line on each edge of the ribbon.

Notable Recipients

See also

• Military William Order
• Order of the Netherlands Lion
• Order of Orange Nassau
• Resistance Memorial Cross, a lower level award