| Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 | |
|---|---|
 Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 with2 silver-gilt (gold) stars | |
| Type | Bravery award |
| Awarded for | Military duty during World War IImentioned in dispatches |
| Presented by |  France |
| Eligibility | Members of theFrench Armed Forces, foreign allied military personnel |
| Clasps | silver-gilt palm silver palm bronze palm silver-gilt star silver star bronze star |
| Status | No longer awarded |
| Established | 26 September 1939 |
| First award | 1939 |
 .jpg) Ribbon bar & streamer of the FrenchCroix de guerre 1939–1945 | |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Croix de guerre 1914–1918 |
| Next (lower) | Croix de Guerre TOE |
TheCroix de Guerre 1939–1945 (English: War Cross 1939–1945) is aFrench military decoration, a version of theCroix de Guerre created on 26 September 1939 to honour people who fought with theAllies against theAxis forces at any time duringWorld War II. After Germany invaded and overran mainland France in theBattle of France in May and June 1940, thisCroix de Guerre was replaced by the pro-AxisVichy French government with anotherCroix with a black-and-green ribbon, while the original was upheld byFree France. Since the triumph of the Free French side in World War II, this version is the only one officially recognized by theFrench government.
Due to the large extent of the war zone, recipients included those who fought during, with, at, or in the following:[1]
TheCroix de Guerre was designed by the sculptorPaul-Albert Bartholomé. The medal is 37 millimetres (1.5 in) in size and is in the shape of aMaltese cross with twoswords criss-crossed through the center. In the center of the front is the profile of the French Republic crested by aPhrygian cap. Around this portrait, are the wordsRépublique française ("French Republic"). On the reverse of the medal are the dates of the conflict : 1939–1940, 1939–1945, or simply 1940.[1]
The suspension and service ribbon of the medal has a red background crossed with four green lines in its center.[2]
On every medal andribbon, there is at least one ribbon device, either in the shape of a palm or of a star, and fashioned from eitherbronze,silver, orsilver-gilt (vermeil). The relative importance of the six possible combinations is detailed below. The total number of devices on a"Croix de Guerre" is not limited.
The lowest degree is represented by a bronze star while the highest degree is represented by a bronze palm:[2]
Bronze star (étoile en bronze) for those who had been mentioned at theregiment orbrigade level.
Silver star (étoile en argent), for those who had been mentioned at thedivision level.
Silver-gilt star (étoile en vermeil), for those who had been mentioned at thecorps level.
Bronze palm (palme en bronze), for those who had been mentioned at thearmy level.
Silver palm (palme en argent), represents five bronze ones.
Silver-gilt palm (palme en vermeil), for those who had been mentioned at theFree French Forces level (World War II only).[1]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 andSilver Star or UKMilitary Cross andMilitary Medal.
Following the German invasion and occupation of France in May 1940, the French collaborationist government (Vichy France; officially calledÉtat français, the "French State") created twocroix during World War II, both utilizing a black-and-green ribbon pattern instead of the original red-and-green. Thesecroix were both disavowed by the Free French government and the postwar French government, and wearing them is illegal in France. The VichyCroix de Guerre employed the same tiered citations for the award as the officially-recognised version, excluding the added gilt palm.
| Ribbon | Awards |
 | Croix de guerre (Vichy France; for World War II service) |
 | Croix de guerre de laLégion des Volontaires Français (forEastern Front World War II service) |
 | This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved.(April 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
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