Belgium, Kingdom. A Croix de Guerre (War Cross) 1940-1945

Instituted in 1941. In bronze, cypher of King Leopold III (1934-1951) on the reverse centrepiece, measuring 39 mm (w) x 62.8 mm (h) inclusive of its crown suspension, bronze palm and lion medallion on its original ribbon with dual prong pinback, extremely fine.

 

Footnote: The Croix de Guerre was instituted on July 20, 1941 by the Belgian government in exile in London, issued to reward acts of bravery in the face of the enemy. The design was the same as the First War version apart from the reverse centrepiece with the King Leopold III cypher. Civilian acts of bravery could be recognized with the Croix de Guerre from the decree of May 20, 1942, with civilian recipients wearing a bronze tower emblem from the decree of the August 23, 1943.