The Military Cross (Belgium)

• Time Period: Pre World War I
• Institution: 11 February 1885
• Country: Belgium

The Military Cross (Croix Militaire / Militair Kruis) is a military long service decoration of Belgium established on 11 February 1885 by Royal Decree and awarded to commissioned officers in the Belgian Armed Forces for loyal and uninterrupted service or to Non-Belgian military officers for distinguished service in favor of the Military of Belgium.

The Military Cross, second class is awarded to Belgian military officers after 25 years of service. The Military Cross, first class is awarded to Belgian military officers after 25 years of service as a commissioned officer.

The award may be awarded to Commissioned Officers of non-Belgian armed forces for distinguished service towards the Belgian Defence. In such a case, the second class is awarded to officers below the rank of brigadier general. The first class is awarded to general officers.

The Military Cross Design

The award is a black enameled Maltese cross with a 1 mm gilt edge. The aarms end in eight 2 mm in diameter gilt spheres and gilt crossed swords pointing up are positioned between the arms of the cross.

The obverse central medallion bears the Belgian lion rampant, pre-1952, while the reverse bears the royal cipher of the reigning monarch. After 1952, the reverse is identical to the obverse.

The ribbon is green silk moiré and has two 5 mm wide red stripes set 1 mm from the ribbon’s edges. There’s a suspension ring passing through the orb of a pivot mounted crown.  The Military Cross First Class differs only from the second class award in the form of a rosette on the ribbon in the same colors as the ribbon.