Croix de guerre 1940–1945 (Belgium)

The War Cross 1940, in French, Oorlogskruis 1940 in Dutch (“War Cross 1940”), is a Belgian medal established on 20 July 1940 to honor those who had fought alongside the Allies against the Axis powers during the Second World War. Its design was based on the 1914–1918 War Cross and, more generally, the French War Cross.

It could be awarded only to those who had participated in at least one of the following military engagements:

Combat during the Battle of France

Combat with the FBI

Combat with the FBF

on the Western Front

on the Middle Eastern Front

in the Mediterranean

in the African campaigns

The War Cross could also be supplemented by a distinction marking a special mention, that is, recognition of the recipient for courage and strength demonstrated in the field, represented by a lion or a palm, as explained below.