Czechoslovakian War Cross
Encyclopedia
The Czechoslovak War Cross (Československý válečný kříž in Czech
, Československý vojnový kríž in Slovak) is a military decoration
of the former state of Czechoslovakia
which was issued as a service medal of both World War I
and World War II
. There are two versions of the decoration, commonly referred to as the Czechoslovak War Cross 1918 and the Czechoslovak War Cross 1939-1945.
The Czechoslovak War Cross 1918 was awarded for acts of military valour during the years of World War I
. Instituted on November 7, 1918, it was issued to Czechoslovak citizens and also, upon application, to citizens of Germany
and Austria
who had served in the Czechoslovak armed forces during the Great War with distinction and bravery and also during border conflicts with Poland and Hungary.
The Czechoslovak War Cross 1939-1945 was awarded for those who had provided great service the Czechoslovak state during the years of World War II.
Czech language
Czech is a West Slavic language with about 12 million native speakers; it is the majority language in the Czech Republic and spoken by Czechs worldwide. The language was known as Bohemian in English until the late 19th century...
, Československý vojnový kríž in Slovak) is a military decoration
Military decoration
A military decoration is a decoration given to military personnel or units for heroism in battle or distinguished service. They are designed to be worn on military uniform....
of the former state of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
which was issued as a service medal of both World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. There are two versions of the decoration, commonly referred to as the Czechoslovak War Cross 1918 and the Czechoslovak War Cross 1939-1945.
The Czechoslovak War Cross 1918 was awarded for acts of military valour during the years of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Instituted on November 7, 1918, it was issued to Czechoslovak citizens and also, upon application, to citizens of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
who had served in the Czechoslovak armed forces during the Great War with distinction and bravery and also during border conflicts with Poland and Hungary.
The Czechoslovak War Cross 1939-1945 was awarded for those who had provided great service the Czechoslovak state during the years of World War II.
The medals
- Czechoslovak War Cross 1918Czechoslovak War Cross 1918The Czechoslovak War Cross 1918 is a military decoration of the former state of Czechoslovakia which was issued for acts of military valour during the years of the First World War.- Description :...
- Czechoslovak War Cross 1939-1945Czechoslovak War Cross 1939-1945The Czechoslovak War Cross 1939-1945 is a military decoration of the former state of Czechoslovakia which was issued for those who had provided great service the Czechoslovak state during the years of World War II.- Description :On December 20, 1940, the Czech government in exile in London ordered...