Combatant's Cross

The Combatant's Cross ("Croix du combattant") is a French decoration that recognizes, as its name implies, those who fought in combat for France.

History
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). The law of 19 December 1926 created la carte du combatantt, or combatant card, for veterans of 1914-1918, as well as those 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.

A decree of January 29, 1948 states that the provisions of the 1930 Act relating to the allocation of the combatant card and the Croix du combattant 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 has extended the award of the Croix du combattant 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 the Croix du combattant) to those who participated in the operations of Cambodia, Cameroon, Gulf, Lebanon, Madagascar, Suez, Somalia, Central African Republic, Chad, Yugoslavia, Zaire, and Iraq.

Description of the medal
A cross pattée with four arms in bronze, with a laurel wreath between the arms 36 mm across. engraved by de DOUMINC.

On the obverse in the center, effigy of the Republic on a charge helmet Adrian laurel leaves surrounded by the legend REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE.

On the reverse the inscription CROIX DU COMBATTANT framing a sword placed vertically with the bottom edge, up to the guard, the rays from up to 180 °.

Eligibility
There is a particular set of requirements for each conflict or military operation in regards to the granting of the combatant card.

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.

- 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