Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures

Croix de guerre des théâtres d’opérations extérieures
French Croix de Guerre des Théatres d'Opérations Extérieures
Awarded by France
Type	Medal
Awarded for	Military duty during Overseas operation, mentioned in Despatches give the importance of the vet role
Status	Open
Statistics
Established	30 April 1921
Precedence
Next (higher)	Croix de guerre 1939-1945
Next (lower)	Croix de la Valeur Militaire
Ribbon bar of the French croix de guerre des théâtres d’opérations extérieures

The Croix de guerre des théâtres d’opérations extérieures is a French medal rewarded for military service in foreign countries. It is granted to individuals who have received citations for their actions while engaged in military service overseas.

History

The Armistice of November 11, 1918 ended the war between France and Germany, but French soldiers continued fighting in theaters outside metropolitan France. Combat operations continued in Syria, Palestine, Constantinople, Morocco, French West Africa and French Equatorial Africa.

A law was passed on April 30, 1921, creating a new so-called Croix de guerre for "Théâtres d'opérations extérieurs" (TOE). It was intended to commemorate the individual citations awarded, during operations carried out since November 11, 1918 or that would occur in the future, for war service characterized directly related to the expedition. The details of the award were the same as that of 1914 - 1918.

Subsequently, the Croix de Guerre TOE was awarded for actions in Indochina, Madagascar, Korea, and the Suez Crisis.

After a hiatus of thirty-five years, it was again awarded for actions between 17 January 1991 and 5 May 1992, for the 15,000 French troops who took part in the liberation of Kuwait during the Gulf War (Order of Minister of Defense of 17 January 1991 ). It was also extended to military operations conducted in Kosovo in 1999.

Description

Medal

Bronze Cross Pattée 37 mm across, with four arms, with between these two crossed swords, points upward. Engraved by the sculptor Albert Bartholome.

On the obverse in a circular medallion, the effigy of the Republic wearing a cap decorated with a laurel wreath, surrounded by a ring bearing the legend: "RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE".

On the reverse: in a circular medallion the inscription: "THÉÂTRES D'OPÉRATIONS EXTÉRIEURS".

Clasps(citations)

Citations: Same as the Croix de guerre 1914-1918.

• a bronze star for those who had been mentioned at the regiment or brigade level.
• a silver star, for those who had been mentioned at the division level.
• a silver-gilt star for those who had been mentioned at the corps level.
• a bronze palm for those who had been mentioned at the army level.
• a silver palm represents five bronze ones.

Eligibility

The procedure for granting the Croix de Guerre TOE are of substantially the same as those governing the Croix de Guerre 1914-1918 the citations for the entire armed forces are made by the Minister of Defense unless this authority has been specially delegated to the commanding general of expeditionary forces.

La Croix de Guerre TOE is awarded to the military and civilians who have been granted because of war, an individual citation during operations on the operational theaters:

• The Levant in 1918 and 1919 , in the East from 1918 to 1920 in Morocco in 1918;
• French Equatorial Africa (AEF) in 1919;
• French West Africa (FWA) from 1918 to 1921;
• Morocco (Rif War) of 1921-1926;
• Indochina in 1918-1922 and 1945–1954;
• for military missions in the Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), Upper Silesia, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Russia, the Caucasus, Siberia, Hungary and Romania;
• Madagascar in 1947;
• Korea from 1950 to 1953;
• The Middle East (Egypt from 30 October 1956 to 31 December 1956 and the Gulf War of 17 January 1991 to 5 May 1992);
• Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Kosovo from 24 March 1999 to 21 June 1999).

Regarding the Navy, the various citations may be awarded, subject to the required authority, by a naval officers in the following commands:

• citation from the army by a vice-admiral commanding in chief a naval force;
• citation from the corps by the vice-admirals commanding a squadron;
• citation from the division by a rear-admiral commanding an independent division;
• citation from the brigade by the rear-admirals commanding a division under command or a training ground, naval captains, division chief;
• citation from the regiment by the senior officer commanding a vessel, a naval force other than those provided above, a training ground.

See also

• Croix de Guerre