The Combatant's Cross (French: "Croix du combattant") is a French decoration that recognizes, as its name implies, those who fought in combat for France. The Poilus (French combat soldiers) of World War I worked toward recognition by the government, of a special status to those who had participated in the bitter fighting of 1914-1918 (as opposed to those who served behind the lines).[1] The law of 19 December 1926 created la "carte du combatant", or combatant's card, for veterans of 1914-1918, as well as for the veterans of 1870-1871 and colonial wars before the First World War. The decoration was created only three years later by the law of 28 June 1930.[2]
André Daugnac, a recipient of the Combatant's CrossDoctor Edmond Reboul, a recipient of the Combatant's Cross
A decree of January 29, 1948 states that the provisions of the 1930 Act relating to the allocation of the combatant's card and the Combatant's Cross were applicable to participants of the 1939-1945 war. The law of 18 July 1952 extended the benefit of the award of the Croix du combattant for Indochina and Korea.
The law of December 9, 1974 extended the award of the Combatant's Cross to operations in North Africa between 1 January 1952 and July 2, 1962. More recently, a decree of January 12, 1994 opened le carte du combattant holder (hence of the Combatant's Cross) to those who participated in operations in Cambodia, Cameroon, Persian Gulf, Lebanon, Madagascar, the Suez Canal, Somalia, Central African Republic, Chad, Yugoslavia, Zaire and Iraq.
There is a particular set of requirements for each conflict or military operation in regards to the granting of the combatant card.[2]
The Cross is awarded in different cases:
- for service with a unit asserted as combattant unit (front-line service) by the Ministry of Defense : ninety days of service or a wound or illness received or contracted during service, or ninety days of detention by the enemy.[2]
- for service with any unit : mention in dispatches for valor, or direct participation in five fire engagements, or a wound in action, or detention by the enemy without application of the Geneva Convention[2]
Award descriptionEdit
A 36 mm wide bronze cross pattée with a laurel wreath between the arms 36 mm across.[3]
On the obverse at center, the effigy of the Republic wearing an Adrian's helmet crowned with laurel leaves surrounded by the relief inscription REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE (FRENCH REPUBLIC).[3]
On the reverse the relief inscription CROIX DU COMBATTANT (COMBATANT'S CROSS) along the lower circumference framing a vertical sword pointing down, rays protruding horizontally and up from the hilt in a 180° arc.[3]
^"Historical introduction to the Combatant's Cross" (in French). France phaléristique. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
^ abcd"Law of the French Republic of 28 June 1930" (in French). France phaléristique. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
^ abc"Decree of the French Republic of 24 August 1930" (in French). France phaléristique. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
External linksEdit
(in French)
October 19, 2023
combatant, cross, french, croix, combattant, french, decoration, that, recognizes, name, implies, those, fought, combat, france, poilus, french, combat, soldiers, world, worked, toward, recognition, government, special, status, those, participated, bitter, fig. The Combatant s Cross French Croix du combattant is a French decoration that recognizes as its name implies those who fought in combat for France The Poilus French combat soldiers of World War I worked toward recognition by the government of a special status to those who had participated in the bitter fighting of 1914 1918 as opposed to those who served behind the lines 1 The law of 19 December 1926 created la carte du combatant or combatant s card for veterans of 1914 1918 as well as for the veterans of 1870 1871 and colonial wars before the First World War The decoration was created only three years later by the law of 28 June 1930 2 Combatant s CrossObverse of the Combatant s CrossAwarded forCombat service to FrancePresented by FranceEstablished19 December 1926Ribbon of the Combatant s CrossPrecedenceNext higher Aeronautical MedalNext lower Medal of French GratitudeAndre Daugnac a recipient of the Combatant s CrossDoctor Edmond Reboul a recipient of the Combatant s CrossA decree of January 29 1948 states that the provisions of the 1930 Act relating to the allocation of the combatant s card and the Combatant s Cross were applicable to participants of the 1939 1945 war The law of 18 July 1952 extended the benefit of the award of the Croix du combattant for Indochina and Korea The law of December 9 1974 extended the award of the Combatant s Cross to operations in North Africa between 1 January 1952 and July 2 1962 More recently a decree of January 12 1994 opened le carte du combattant holder hence of the Combatant s Cross to those who participated in operations in Cambodia Cameroon Persian Gulf Lebanon Madagascar the Suez Canal Somalia Central African Republic Chad Yugoslavia Zaire and Iraq Contents 1 Award statute 2 Award description 3 Noteworthy recipients partial list 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksAward statute EditThere is a particular set of requirements for each conflict or military operation in regards to the granting of the combatant card 2 The Cross is awarded in different cases for service with a unit asserted as combattant unit front line service by the Ministry of Defense ninety days of service or a wound or illness received or contracted during service or ninety days of detention by the enemy 2 for service with any unit mention in dispatches for valor or direct participation in five fire engagements or a wound in action or detention by the enemy without application of the Geneva Convention 2 Award description EditA 36 mm wide bronze cross pattee with a laurel wreath between the arms 36 mm across 3 On the obverse at center the effigy of the Republic wearing an Adrian s helmet crowned with laurel leaves surrounded by the relief inscription REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE FRENCH REPUBLIC 3 On the reverse the relief inscription CROIX DU COMBATTANT COMBATANT S CROSS along the lower circumference framing a vertical sword pointing down rays protruding horizontally and up from the hilt in a 180 arc 3 Noteworthy recipients partial list EditResistance fighter Andre Girard General Jeannou Lacaze General Marcel Letestu General Pierre Garbay General Antoine Bethouart Brigadier General Charles de Gaulle Private Rene Riffaud Private Ramire Rosan Military interpreter Robert Merle Private Leon Weil Resistance fighter Rene Georges Laurin Commander Philippe Kieffer Squadron leader Rene Mouchotte Sergeant Eugene Bullard Sergeant Dominique Venner Henri d Orleans Count of ParisSee also EditRibbons of the French military and civil awards nbsp France portal nbsp World War I portal nbsp World War II portalReferences Edit Historical introduction to the Combatant s Cross in French France phaleristique Retrieved 2016 11 27 a b c d Law of the French Republic of 28 June 1930 in French France phaleristique Retrieved 2016 11 27 a b c Decree of the French Republic of 24 August 1930 in French France phaleristique Retrieved 2016 11 27 External links EditMuseum of the Legion of Honour in French Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Combatant 27s Cross amp oldid 1065935381, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
