List of recipients of the Croix de Guerre explained

The Croix de Guerre (in French kʁwa də ɡɛʁ/, Cross of War) is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, then revived for World War II, and from 1921 had another version for other conflicts. The Croix de Guerre was also commonly bestowed on foreign military forces allied to France.[1]

The Croix de Guerre may be awarded either as an individual award or as a unit award to those soldiers who distinguish themselves by acts of heroism involving combat with the enemy. The medal is awarded to those who have been "mentioned in dispatches", meaning a heroic deed or deeds were performed meriting a citation from an individual's headquarters unit. The unit award of the Croix de Guerre with palm was issued to military units whose members performed heroic deeds in combat and were subsequently recognized by headquarters. The Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures ("Cross of War for external theatres of operations") was established in 1921 for other conflicts around the world.

Often whole units were awarded the decoration, and the total number of recipients during WWI was 2,065,000.[2] Especially in WW2, the decoration was also awarded to whole villages, such as those involved in the French Resistance.[3] The following is a very incomplete list of recipients of the Croix de Guerre, concentrating on awards to Americans.

Recipients of the Croix de Guerre (France) for Meritocracy during World War I

In 1942, personally led at the head of the Group ‘Isle de France’ 19 offensive missions of which 5 were carried out in the single day of 19th Aug. 1942, during the course of the combined operations over Dieppe.”No. 1778/1961/C. Received with Bronze Palme.

Recipients of the Croix de Guerre (France) for Meritocracy during World War II

In 1942, personally led at the head of the Group ‘Isle de France’ 19 offensive missions of which 5 were carried out in the single day of 19th Aug. 1942, during the course of the combined operations over Dieppe.”No. 1778/1961/C Received with Bronze Palme.

Recipients of the Croix de Guerre (France) not otherwise categorized

During World War I, Cher Ami, a Carrier pigeon with the 77th Division, helped save the lives of 194 American soldiers by carrying a message across enemy lines in the heat of battle. Cher Ami was shot in the chest and leg, losing most of the leg to which the message was attached, and blinded in one eye, but continued the 25-mile flight avoiding shrapnel and poison gas to get the message home. Cher Ami was awarded the French Croix de Guerre with Palm for heroic service. She later died from the wounds received in battle and was enshrined in the Smithsonian Institution.

Aram Karamanoukian, a lieutenant-general of the Syrian army of Armenian descent, who participated in the First Arab-Israeli war, was awarded the Croix de Guerre.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Error. 2012-07-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20121028120330/http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/awards/croix_de_guerre_france.aspx. 2012-10-28. dead.
  2. Web site: Marc Champenois . Croix de guerre 1914–1918 . France-phaleristique.com . 2014-05-23 . fr.
  3. Web site: Marc Champenois . Croix de guerre 1939–1945 . France-phaleristique.com . 1 November 2013 . fr.
  4. Le Maître . Claude . June 1997 . Marcel Riffard . Renault-Histoire . 9 . fr . 159–164 . Société d'Histoire du Groupe Renault .
  5. Irwin . Wyman W. . A Special Force: Origin And Development Of The Jedburgh Project In Support Of Operation Overlord . A Special Force: Origin and Development of the Jedburgh Project in Support of Operation Overlord . 174 . Ike Skelton Combined Arms Research Library Digital Library.