Croix de guerre 1914-1918 (France)

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Croix de guerre 1914-1918
Image:Croix-de-Guerre.jpg French Croix de Guerre of World War I
Awarded by Image:Flag of France.svg France
Type	Medal
Awarded for	Military duty during World War I, mentioned in Despatches give the importance of the vet role
Status	Closed
Statistics
Established	April 2 1915
Precedence
Next (higher)	Ordre National du Mérite
Next (lower)	Croix de guerre 1939-1945
Image:Ruban de la Croix de guerre 1914-1918.PNG Ribbon bar of the French Croix de guerre 1914-1918

The Croix de guerre 1914-1918 (French for "Cross of War") is a French military decoration.

1 Creation
2 Military insignia
3 Acknowledgements
4 See also

[edit] Creation

Quite soon after the break up of World War I, the French military staff felt that a new military award had to be created. At that time it existed already the "Citation du jour" (the "daily acknowledgement") to acknowledge soldiers but it was just a sheet of paper.

At the end of the year 1914, the general Boëlle, commandant in chief of the French IVe Army corps, tried to convince the French administration to create a such military award. In his work, the writer and deputy of Paris Maurice Barrès gave him support.

On December 23 1914, the French deputy Georges Bonnefous proposed a legislative bill which has been pre-signed by 66 others deputies : this bill aimed to the creation of a "Croix de la Valeur Militaire" ("Cross of the Military Valor"). The deputy Émile Driant who is on the war zone most of the time became its natural spokesman when he was back at the parliement.

On January 18 1915, Émile Driant proposed this bill but its name has changed : now, this military award will be called the Croix de guerre (French for "Cross of War"). After parlementary talking, the bill is adopted on April 2 1915

World War I started in 1914 and ended on 1918 : so the final and actual name is "Croix de guerre 1914-1918".

On every "Croix de guerre", there is at least one mention, this one is awarded for gallantry to any member of the French military or its allies. The degree shows the importance of the former warriors role during the World War I : the lowest degree is represented by a bronze star while the highest degree is represented by a bronze palm. On a "Croix de guerre", the number of mentions are not limited.

[edit] Military insignia

Image:Photo Croix de guerre recto.jpg

Croix de guerre with 4 acknowledgments (the one of Col. Brébant) :
1 bronze palm
1 silver gilt star
1 silver star
1 bronze star

Medal : it was designed by the sculptor Paul-Albert Bartholomé. It is 37 mm large and there are four arms and two swords criss-crossed. In the center of the front side, we have the profile of the French Republic crested by a Phrygian cap. Around this portrait, we can read « République française » (French Republic). On the back of the medal, there are the dates of the conflict : first, it was 1914-1915 then 1914-1916, 1914-1917 and finally 1914-1918

Ribbon : green with seven tiny red lines

[edit] Acknowledgements

Mentioned in Despatches : the lowest degree is represented by a bronze star while the highest degree is represented by a bronze palm
- a bronze star for those who had been mentioned at the regiment or brigade level.
- a silver star, for those who had been mentioned at the division level.
- a silver gilt star for those who had been mentioned at the corps level.
- a bronze palm for those who had been mentioned at the army level.
- a silver palm represents five bronze ones.

The mentions are awarded for gallantry to any member of the French military or its allies and are, depending on the degree, roughly the equivalent for U.S. Bronze Star Medal and Silver Star Medal or UK Military Cross and Military Medal.