Croix de guerre ( Belgium ) The Croix de guerre ( War Cross ; ; ) , is a military decoration of the Kingdom of Belgium established by royal decree on 25 October 1915 . It was primarily awarded for bravery or other military virtue on the battlefield . The award was re established on 20 July 1940 by the Belgian Government in exile in London for recognition of bravery and military virtue during World War II . The post - 1940 decoration could also be awarded to units that were cited . The decoration was again re established by royal decree on 3 April 1954 for award during future conflicts . World War I . Award statute . The World War I Croix de guerre was established by royal decree on 25 October 1915 as an award for bravery or other military virtue on the battlefield . It was only awarded to individuals . The Croix de guerre was not only awarded for bravery but also for three years or more of service on the front line , or for good conduct on the battlefield . It was also awarded to volunteers older than 40 or younger than 16 after a minimum of 18 months of service , to escaped prisoners of war rejoining the armed forces , and to military personnel who were placed on inactive duty because of injury . Award description . The World War 1 Croix de guerre was a 40mm wide bronze Maltese cross with 3mm in diameter balls at its eight points . It had a 14mm in diameter central medallion bearing the relief image of a " lion rampant " on its obverse and the royal cypher of King Albert I on its reverse . Two 37mm long crossed swords point upwards between it arms . A 14mm high " inverted V " between the two points of the top cross arm is secured to the inside of a 25mm wide by 25mm high royal crown , the ribbon ' s suspension ring passes through the top orb of the crown giving the cross a total height of 65mm . The World War 1 Croix de guerre ' s ribbon is red with five 2mm wide light green longitudinal stripes , three at the center separated by 3mm and one on each side 3mm from the edges . When the person being awarded the Croix de guerre was mentioned in despatches , this distinction was denoted by a device worn on the ribbon , either a small lion or a palm adorned with the monogram " A " ( for King Albert I ) : Bronze lion : regimental level Silver lion : brigade level Gold lion : divisional level Bronze palm : Army level Silver palm : five bronze palms Gold palm : five silver palms When awarded posthumously , the ribbon of the Croix de guerre was adorned with a narrow black enamel bar . Notable recipients of the 1914 – 1918 Croix de guerre ( partial list ) . The individuals listed below were awarded the WW1 Croix de guerre : World War II . Award statute . The World War II Croix de guerre was established on 20 July 1940 by the Belgian Government in exile in London , it differed from the World War I version in its statute and slight changes to the reverse of the central medallion and the ribbon . It was still mainly awarded to individuals , but was now also authorized as a unit award . A war cross being presented to a unit was denoted by a ribbon of the war cross being afixed to the unit colours The Belgian Fourragère was awarded by the Belgian Government to a unit that was cited twice . Award of the fourragère was not automatic and required a specific decree of the Belgian Government . The fourragère is in the same colours as the ribbon of the WW2 Croix de guerre . The Belgian fourragère was only worn by those who were members of the unit at the time of the award . Award description . The World War II Croix de guerre was constructed in the same dimensions as its World War I predecessor , the only real difference being the royal cypher of King Leopold III on its reverse . The new ribbon was still red with light green stripes but there were now six , 1mm wide , and positioned three on each side 2mm apart beginning 2mm from the edge of the ribbon . The same ribbon devices were used as in World War I except the palms were now adorned with the monogram " L " ( for King Leopold III ) . Notable recipients of the 1940 – 1945 Croix de guerre ( partial list ) . The individuals listed below were awarded the WW2 Croix de guerre : Post 1954 variant . Award statute . On 3 April 1954 , the Belgian government re established the Croix de guerre but this time without any reference to a specific conflict . This decoration is intended to be awarded in a manner akin the World War 2 statute during potential future wars . The 1954 Croix de guerre has not yet been awarded . Award description . The post - 1954 ( or current ) Croix de guerre is similar to the previous variants but with a different reverse center medallion now bearing the Coat of arms of Belgium in lieu of a royal monogram . The ribbon is a mirror image of the World War II Croix de guerre ribbon , green with three narrow 1mm wide red stripes 2mm apart on each side beginning 2mm from the edge .