Orders, decorations, and medals of France
This is a list of some of the modern orders, decorations and medals of France. Some, like the Legion of Honour, are awarded to both the armed forces and civilians. Others are decorations of a pure civilian or military character. Only four of the 19 Ministerial orders have survived the reform of the French system of decorations in 1963. The others were replaced by the Ordre national du Mérite.
Image: Chevalier légion d'honneur
Image: Ordre de la Liberation France
Image: Ordre national du merite chevalier FRANCE
Image: Commandeur de l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques avers
Croix de Guerre 1939–1945
The Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 is a French military decoration, a version of the Croix de Guerre created on 26 September 1939 to honour people who fought with the Allies against the Axis forces at any time during World War II. After Germany invaded and overran mainland France in the Battle of France in May and June 1940, this Croix de Guerre was replaced by the pro-Axis Vichy French government with another Croix with a black-and-green ribbon, while the original was upheld by Free France. Since the triumph of the Free French side in World War II, this version is the only one officially recognized by the French government.
Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 with 2 silver-gilt (gold) stars
Reverse of the 1939–1945 War Cross
