Luxembourg War Cross

Luxembourg War Cross
Luxembourg War Cross
TypeMilitary decoration
Awarded forDistinguished acts of courage and bravery
Presented byLuxembourg Luxembourg
StatusNot currently awarded
Established17 April 1945

Luxembourg War Cross ribbon bar

Luxembourg War Cross Unit award

Unit award streamer
Precedence
Next (higher)Cross of Honour and Military Merit[1]
EquivalentLuxembourg War Cross (1951)

The Luxembourg War Cross (French: Croix de Guerre, German: Kriegskreuz) is a military decoration of Luxembourg. It was created on 17 April 1945 by the Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg.[2][3] The War Cross recognizes military service and feats of bravery.[2][3] The medal is often referred to as the Luxembourg Croix de Guerre (French for War Cross) as French is one of Luxembourg's three official languages.[4]

Luxembourg bestowed the War Cross on both Luxembourg citizens and members of the Allied Forces for acts of particular bravery or valor during the Liberation of Luxembourg.[4] The War Cross could also be awarded to military units.[5][6][7] The Luxembourg War Cross was one of the rarest foreign decorations bestowed on allied troops due to the small number of combat operations that took place in Luxembourg—in contrast to major fighting in places like Belgium, France, and Germany.[citation needed]

  1. ^ "DISTINCTIONS HONORIFIQUES" (PDF). CODE ADMINISTRATIF – 2007 – Vol. 4. Journal Officiel du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 April 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  2. ^ a b "The Language of Warfare - Luxembourg War Cross". Retrieved 7 January 2008.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference OMSA was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b "Arrêté grand-ducal du 9 mai 1951 portant institution d´une Croix de Guerre" (PDF). Journal officiel du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg (in French). Service Central de Législation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-10-05. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
  5. ^ "1st Battalion, 46th Infantry". History.army.mil. Archived from the original on 23 May 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
  6. ^ "34th Armor". History.army.mil. Archived from the original on 21 September 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
  7. ^ "35th Engineer Battalion". History.army.mil. Retrieved 22 December 2014.