War Cross (France)

The French War Cross is a decoration established on 2 April 1915, awarded for bravery or special achievements in battle. It was awarded on an individual basis: to French as well as foreigners, military as well as civilians, and collectively: military units or ships, or even cities destroyed, ravaged or bombed as a result of hostilities. The medal was a response to the need to recognise not only officers or high-ranking individuals, but above all military personnel of all ranks and units and civilians who faced the realities of war every day. The proposal for the new decoration made on 23 December 1914 by a group of parliamentarians led by Georges Bonnefous, was preceded by a press appeal by another parliamentarian and writer Maurice Barrès. He requested that commanders be given the opportunity to honour the actions of soldiers directly on the battlefield after the action. Bonnefous' bill envisaged the creation of a new war decoration as an award for all soldiers whose merits did not qualify them to be awarded the Legion of Honour and the Military Medal. It was adopted unanimously and already on 4 February 1915, the Senate Military Commission drew up a design for the decoration. The War Cross for the First World War was awarded 2,065,000 times and concluded in 1921. Polish soldiers could be honoured with it, however, only after the introduction of the decree of the French President of 9 July 1918. Stars and palm branches were attached to the ribbons indicating the number of times a person had been honoured and by whose order. Although the information on who decorated the presented example is unknown, it is known that he or she was honoured with the War Cross five times by order of the Army and once by order of a brigade or regiment. Anna Lew-Machniak