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Category: Cross

The Luxembourg War Cross

The Luxembourg War Cross was created on 17 April 1945 by Charlotte to recognize military service and feats of bravery.

The Luxembourg War Cross (or Croix de Guerre in French, Kriegskreuz in German) is a distinguished military decoration awarded by Luxembourg. Established on 17 April 1945 by Grand Duchess Charlotte, the War Cross honors acts of military service and bravery. Often referred to as the Luxembourg Croix de Guerre due to French being one of the country’s official languages, this medal recognizes exceptional valor.

The War Cross was awarded to both Luxembourg citizens and Allied Forces members who displayed remarkable bravery during the Liberation of Luxembourg. It could also be conferred upon entire military units for their collective acts of courage. Given the relatively limited combat operations within Luxembourg compared to other regions like Belgium, France, and Germany, the Luxembourg War Cross remains one of the rarest foreign decorations presented to Allied troops.

War Cross 1940–1945

The War Cross 1940–1945 was established in April 1945 by Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg. This decoration was awarded to members of the armed forces and paramilitary organizations for distinguished service during World War II, and it was also open to foreigners.

War Cross 1951

The War Cross 1951 was instituted in May 1951 to recognize acts of bravery and courage by members of the Luxembourg Military and paramilitary organizations. It can be awarded posthumously and is also open to foreigners. This decoration was created to acknowledge service in the Korean War and future conflicts.

The Luxembourg War Cross Design

War Cross 1940-1945 Design:

A dark bronze Cross pattée, surmounted by a grand ducal crown. The obverse features a large letter “C” crowned and the reverse bears the date “1940.” Additional elements include crossed swords between the arms of the cross, pointing upward.

The ribbon is nassau blue with three yellow-orange stripes equally spaced from the center, with yellow-orange edges.

War Cross 1951 Design:

The medal is identical to the War Cross 1940–1945, but with a different reverse, which features a wreath of oak leaves instead of the date “1940.”

Cross of Honor and Military Merit (Luxembourg)

Cross of Honor and Military Merit was established by Grand Duchess Charlotte in May 1951, for distinguished service to the military.

The Cross of Honor and Military Merit (or Croix d’Honneur et de Mérite militaire in French) is a prestigious military decoration in Luxembourg, established by Grand Duchess Charlotte in May 1951. This honor recognizes distinguished service within the military during peacetime and extraordinary acts of courage and bravery during wartime.

During times of peace, the Cross of Honor and Military Merit is awarded to military personnel who have demonstrated exceptional service and dedication to their duties.

In times of conflict, the cross is awarded for outstanding acts of heroism and bravery on the battlefield, highlighting the valor of those who go above and beyond the call of duty.

The Cross of Honor and Military Merit is bestowed in three distinct classes, each representing different levels of achievement and service:

  1. Gilt: The highest class, awarded for the most distinguished service or acts of extraordinary bravery.
  2. Silver: The intermediate class, recognizing significant contributions and courageous acts.
  3. Bronze: The entry-level class, awarded for notable service and acts of merit.

Cross of Honor and Military Merit Design

The cross features the inscription “Honor, Virtue, Fatherland” in the obverse.

The Order of the Resistance (Luxembourg)

The Order of the Resistance is a civil decoration established in 1946 to recognize civilians who distinguished themselves during WW2.

The Order of the Resistance 1940–1944 is a civilian decoration of Luxembourg, established on March 30, 1946, by decree of Grand Duchess Charlotte. This honor recognizes civilians who demonstrated exceptional service to the national or allied cause during the German occupation of Luxembourg in World War II, through acts of resistance, bravery, and dedication.

Recipients of the Order could be awarded either a cross or a medal, conferred by the monarch of Luxembourg upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister and the Council for the Remembrance of the Resistance. In 2003, it was decided that the cross would only be awarded posthumously, and the medal would no longer be awarded.

The Order of the Resistance Design

The medal is a cross pattée, which features broad arms that narrow towards the center.

At the center of the cross, there is a circular medallion with the letters “R L” (Resistance Luxembourg) prominently displayed, symbolizing the resistance efforts within Luxembourg.

The cross is suspended from a ribbon. The ribbon is red with two narrow black stripes near each edge, reflecting the colors associated with resistance movements.

The Order of the Oak Crown

The Order of the Oak Crown was established in 1841 by Grand Duke William II and is primarily used as an award for Luxembourgish citizens.

The Order of the Oak Crown (or Ordre de la Couronne de chêne in French, Eichenlaubkronenorden in German) is a prestigious honor of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, established in 1841 by Grand Duke William II, who was also King of the Netherlands.

Initially, the Order of the Oak Crown served as a Luxembourgish honor during the personal union between Luxembourg and the Netherlands, where both nations shared the same head of state. Despite its legal status as a Luxembourgish order, it was frequently used by William II (who conferred the order to fewer than 30 recipients) and his successor, William III (bestowing 300 decorations), to reward Dutch subjects independently of the Dutch government.

The order consists of five grades:

  1. Grand Cross 
  2. Grand Officer 
  3. Commander 
  4. Officer 
  5. Knight 

The Order of the Oak Crown Design

The badge of the Order (depicted here) features a gilt cross pattée enameled in white, with the Officer class distinguished by a green enameled oak wreath between the arms of the cross. The central disc showcases a crowned monogram “W” (for William) on a green enamel background.

The plaque for the Order varies by rank: for the Grand Cross, it is an eight-pointed faceted silver star; for the Grand Officer, it is a faceted silver Maltese Cross. Both plaques have a central disc with the crowned monogram “W” on a green enamel background, encircled by a red enamel ring bearing the motto “Je Maintiendrai” (“I Will Maintain”), which is the national motto of the Netherlands, and further surrounded by a green enamelled oak wreath.

The medal of the Order is octagonal, featuring the badge motif without enamel on the obverse and an oak wreath without enamel on the reverse.

The ribbon is yellow-orange moiré with three dark green stripes, symbolizing the oak forests and rue fields of the Luxembourg countryside.

The Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

The Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg was instituted on 23 January 1961 and is an order of merit of Luxembourg.

The Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (or Ordre de Mérite du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg in French) is a distinguished honor established on 23 January 1961 by Grand Duchess Charlotte.

The order is open to deputies, state councillors, civil servants, elected officials, and municipal administration personnel, as well as prominent figures in the economic, social, cultural, or sports sectors, and volunteers. Additionally, it can be awarded to foreign nationals.

The order’s Grand Master is the Grand Duke of Luxembourg. In addition to its five classes, the order also includes a gilt medal.

The order comprises five grades:

  • Grand Cross
  • Grand Officer
  • Commander
  • Officer
  • Knight

The Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Design

The Grand Officer and Commander ranks are identical, but only the Grand Officer is accompanied by a Breast Star. There is at least one other version that differs in composition.

The Order of Adolphe of Nassau

The Order of Civil and Military Merit of Adolph of Nassau was founded in 1858 as a chivalric order of the Duchy of Nassau.

The Order of Civil and Military Merit of Adolph of Nassau (or Ordre de Mérite civil et militaire d’Adolphe de Nassau in French) is a distinguished award of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It recognizes outstanding service to the Grand Duke, the Grand-Ducal House, and Luxembourg.

Established in 1858 by Adolphe of Nassau as a chivalric order in the Duchy of Nassau, it honored his ancestor, Adolf, Count of Nassau, the sole member of the House of Nassau to become Roman King of Germany. Following the annexation of the Duchy by Prussia in 1866 and Adolphe’s accession as Grand Duke of Luxembourg in 1890, he reestablished the order as an order of merit.

The order consists of eight grades:

  1. Grand Cross 
  2. Grand Officer 
  3. Commander of the Crown
  4. Commander (male) / Cross of Honor for Ladies (female) 
  5. Officer of the Crown
  6. Officer
  7. Knight of the Crown
  8. Knight

Foreigners can also be inducted into the order, making it a common diplomatic honor. During World War II, it was awarded to a select number of Allied officers who played a role in liberating Luxembourg from Nazi Germany.

The Order of Adolphe of Nassau Design

The badge of the order is a gold cross, enamelled in white, with eight points each ending in a gold pearl. The front central disc displays the gold letter “A” in Gothic script, crowned by an imperial crown. This is surrounded by a laurel wreath on a blue-enamelled background, inscribed with the motto “Virtute” in gold letters. The reverse side features the dates “1292” (the year Adolf of Nassau-Weilburg was crowned King of the Romans) and “1858” (the year the order was established by Adolphe, Duke of Nassau) in gold letters on a white-enamelled background. The military division includes two crossed swords under the central medallion. The badge for all classes of the order has a gold crown attached above it.

The plaque (breast star) for the civil division of the order is an eight-pointed faceted silver star for the Grand Cross, or a faceted silver Maltese Cross with silver rays between the arms for the Grand Officer. The central disc is identical to that of the badge. The military division’s plaque also features two crossed swords under the central medallion, with gold hilts and silver blades, and the corresponding badge shows two crossed swords in gold.

The cross mirrors the badge in shape but is not enamelled, and is made of plain gold or silver. The medal is round, available in gold, silver, or bronze, and features the portrait of Adolph, Duke of Nassau.

The ribbon of the order is blue moiré with a narrow orange stripe along each edge. The Grand Cross badge is suspended from a 100 mm wide ribbon. The Grand Officer and Commander wear the badge from a 43 mm wide ribbon, while the Officer and Knight wear it from a 38 mm wide ribbon, with the Officer’s ribbon featuring a rosette in the same colors.

The Order of Freedom of Barbados

The Order of Freedom of Barbados is a national honor established in 2019 by the Parliament of Barbados. It has one class.

  • Time Period: Post-WW2
  • Institution: 19 August 2019
  • Country: Barbados

The Order of Freedom of Barbados is a national honor established by the Parliament of Barbados through the Order of Freedom of Barbados Act 2019. It is part of the broader Order of Barbados, ranking above the Order of the Republic but below the supreme Order of National Heroes.

Officers and Classes

The Order consists of a single class, unnamed in the Act. There is no annual limit on appointments to this class, except for honorary members, which are capped at two per year. Appointments are made by the president on the advice of the Prime Minister and announced annually on Independence Day (30 November).

Recipients of the Order are entitled to use the post-nominal letters “FB” (Freedom of Barbados) and the honorific style “The Most Honourable.” The insignia of the Order is determined by the Prime Minister.

Eligibility for Conferment of Order

A person who:

  • was born in Barbados;
  • is a citizen of Barbados;
  • or is entitled to be registered as a citizen of Barbados

and who has distinguished himself by extraordinary service to Barbados, the Caribbean, the Caribbean Diaspora or to humanity at large is eligible to be
conferred with the Order of Freedom of Barbados.

The Wounded Personnel Medal (Philippines)

The Wounded Personnel Medal is a decoration awarded to military of and civilians who are injured or killed in combat with the enemy.

The Wounded Personnel Medal is bestowed upon members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, as well as civilian personnel, who sustain injuries or lose their lives in combat engagements with the enemy.

The Wounded Personnel Medal Design

Crafted in gold, the medal takes the shape of a cross. At its center, a relief depicting General Gregorio del Pilar’s head is positioned, facing forward. Surrounding the cross is a wreath composed of light green laurel leaves.

The cross symbolizes the peril encountered during combat, while the depiction of General Del Pilar signifies acts leading to injury inflicted by an armed adversary. The wreath serves as a tribute to such courageous endeavors, with the green hue representing nobility and dedication to duty.

The ribbon accompanying the medal features a white base with a central purple stripe.

The Bronze Cross Medal (Philippines)

The Bronze Cross Medal military decoration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines awarded for heroism involving risk of life.

The Bronze Cross Medal (or Medalyang Tanso na Krus) is a singular military decoration bestowed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, given for acts of “heroism involving risk of life” under circumstances not warranting the higher Gold Cross Medal. It may be granted for either: 1) voluntary actions displaying exceptional courage beyond the call of duty amidst grave danger, or 2) other remarkable acts of bravery not directly involving combat with the enemy.

This honor is conferred by various high-ranking officials including the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), commanders of the Philippine Army, Navy (PN), and Air Force (PAF), as well as AFP Support Services Units, Area Commands, division and brigade commanders, and their equivalents in the PAF and PN. Recipients of this medal may include both military and civilian personnel of the AFP, and individuals from allied armed forces may also be eligible based on the specified award criteria.

The Bronze Cross Medal Design

The medal features a golden Greek cross with a green laurel wreath positioned centrally over it. At the center of the horizontal arms of the cross, there is a golden bar bearing the inscription “BRAVERY.”

It hangs from a blue ribbon with a central red stripe bordered by white edges, accompanied by narrow white stripes positioned halfway to the ribbon’s edges.

The Distinguished Navy Cross (Philippines)

The Distinguished Navy Cross is a military decoration of the Armed Forces presented for distinguished heroism.

The Distinguished Navy Cross is a prestigious decoration within the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), recognizing exceptional heroism. This valor is demonstrated through voluntary actions undertaken in the face of grave danger, surpassing the expected duties while engaged in naval operations.

The act must be notably outstanding, setting the recipient apart from their peers. This accolade is granted by the Chief of Staff of the AFP, Unified Command, or Major Service Commanders to AFP military personnel serving in any capacity within the Philippine Navy or its naval components.

The Distinguished Navy Cross Design

The award itself features a gold Maltese cross, with the centerpiece displaying the emblem of the Philippine Navy. This emblem depicts a gold-plated Philippine sea lion grasping a dagger in its right paw and a Sampaguita flower in the left, set upon an anchor. Encircling this emblem is a navy blue disc adorned with laurel leaves.

The ribbon accompanying the cross is colored cornflower blue and is accentuated with three small white lines at its center.