Croix de guerre question

[VieuxCharles]

Hey everyone,
ok maybe this is a stupid question but I recently procured a french croix de guerre and I was wondering why both the start and the end year of the war (1914-1918) are on the back, although it was probably awarded somewhere in between?
Was the end date added afterward the award was bestowed (When the war ended and they new the end date) or does it mean it was awarded at the end of the war? As I said probably a stupid question but I thought maybe some of you knowledgable chaps could answer this little query of mine.
Kind regards Alexander

[camelbeagle]

The War Cross is only awarded during wartime. Therefore your version was awarded in 1918.

Wikipedia description
The cross was designed by the sculptor Paul-Albert Bartholomé. It is 37 mm wide, Florentine bronze cross pattée, with two crossed swords pointing up between the arms. The obverse centre medallion bears the relief image of the French Republic in the form of the bust of a young woman wearing a Phrygian cap surrounded by the circular relief inscription RÉPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE (FRENCH REPUBLIC). Not knowing how long the war would last, the reverse centre medallion bears the dates 1914–1915, 1914–1916, 1914–1917 and finally 1914–1918.[1]

The cross is suspended by a ring through a suspension loop cast atop the upper cross arm. It hangs from a 37 mm wide green silk moiré ribbon with seven narrow 1,5 mm wide vertical red stripes evenly spaced and two 1 mm red edge stripes.[2]

[VieuxCharles]

Oh, ok thanks very much!!

[camelbeagle]

You are very welcome!

[Spad VII]

There are also cities that will receive it
the city of Dunkirk in France will be the first city decorated with the cross of war in 1917 at the initiative of the minister of war Paul Painlevé.
3.014 communes, including the City of Paris and 16 foreign cities, will receive the War Cross 1914-1918.
The same will be true for the 16 civilian institutions decorated with the 1914-1918 War Cross.

Croix de guerre 1914-1918



Croix de guerre 1939 - 1945

[camelbeagle]

Bruno, that is a very nice one! Very nice shape! I do wonder if you have the correct ribbon. The ribbon on the medal pictured is the WWII ribbon for the 1939-1945 cross. Here is the English Wikipedia entry.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croix_...31918_(France)

Here is my War Cross. Medal and mounted ribbon are WWI Vintage. Ribbon Bar is French produced, but I do not know when.

[Spad VII]

Good evening Dan , it’s always a pleasure to exchange with you , and i'm apologise it's right ! I posted the wrong photo 1939 1945 a new ribbon of two red outer bands framing four green bands separated by three thin red stripes.

I will correct, your medal collection is superb and yours looks completely authentic from 14-18 :

Originally, on the first crosses awarded in 1915, the vintages inscribed on the reverse are 1914-1915, but the war having unfortunately extended three more years, it is possible to find crosses with the vintages 1914-1916, 1914-1917 and finally 1914-1918. The choice of model was the subject of a competition open to all medalists, engravers and sculptors of France. The model chosen (presented by the Trade Union of Manufacturers of Orders ) has raised criticism of its form which, according to some, was too reminiscent of the shape of the German decorations (iron cross, cross of military merit, etc.).



Bronze star of the brigade or regiment (or equivalent unit) Silver star of the division
Vermeil star of the corps Bronze palm of the Army
Silver palm 5 quotations to the order of the Army :
Above, '"Army" is not the generic word "army" but the organizational subdivision, above the corps.

[camelbeagle]

Bruno, Nice medals! Great information. Thanks for sharing!

[milcoll73]

great pics and info guys! always great to get more info on these tokens of honor.

[VieuxCharles]

Same here thanks to all of you!!