Croix de Guerre 1939–1945


The Croix de guerre 1939–1945 is a French military decoration, a version of the Croix de guerre created on September 26, 1939, to honour people who fought with the Allies against the Axis forces at any time during World War II.

Award statute

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

Medal

The Croix de guerre was designed by the sculptor Paul-Albert Bartholomé. The medal is 37 mm 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. On the reverse of the medal are the dates of the conflict : 1939–1940, 1939–1945, or simply 1940.

Ribbon

The suspension and service ribbon of the medal has a red background crossed with four green lines in its center.

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 gilded silver. 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

Mentioned in Despatches

The lowest degree is represented by a bronze star while the highest degree is represented by a bronze palm:
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.

Notable recipients