The Croix du combattant volontaire de la Résistance (Combatant Volunteer Cross of the Resistance) is a French decoration that recognizes, as its name implies, those who fought in one of the resistance groups, or have been deported or interned for acts of the Resistance, or have been killed or injured in acts of resistance during 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...

.

History

This award was created in 1954 and awarded to those who had been designated and issued cards certifying them as voluntary resistance fighters.

Description of the medal

A cross with four arms in bronze, 36 mm wide. Engraved by Frédéric De VERNON.

On the obverse: a Cross of Lorraine

Cross of Lorraine

The Cross of Lorraine is originally a heraldic cross. The two-barred cross consists of a vertical line crossed by two smaller horizontal bars. In the ancient version, both bars were of the same length. In 20th century use it is "graded" with the upper bar being the shortest...

 superimposed on top of the cross.

On the reverse: is the inscription: Combattant volontaire résistance.

Eligibility

The Croix du combattant volontaire de la Résistance was created to honor those who voluntarily participated in acts of resistance, or by participating with a recognized resistance group, during which they put their lives at risk. It was issued to all cardholders of voluntary resistance fighter (created in 1949), which itself is obtained using the following criteria:

• Holders of the a card Resistant-Deported or Interned-Resistant.
• Those executed, killed or injured in an act of resistance.
• Those who were members of a resistance group, recognized as a fighting unit and who actually fought at least 90 days in the French Forces Combattantes (FFC) or French Forces of the Interior ( FFI) or the French Resistance Interior (RFI).
• The people who have belonged for 90 days before June 6, 1944, the FFC, FFI, or RFI in an area occupied by the enemy, and have affidavits from two persons well known for their activity in the French Resistance.

The Croix du Combattant Volontaire de la Résistance is not considered a war decoration, but is taken into account when reviewing applications for, firstly, the Croix du combattant volontaire 1939–1945

Croix du combattant volontaire 1939–1945

The Croix du combattant volontaire 1939–1945 is a French decoration that recognizes those who have volunteered to serve in a combat unit during World War II. It is the World War II equivalent of the Croix du Combattant Volontaire 1914–1918.-History:This decoration is equivalent to that awarded to...

 and, secondly, the rank of Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur

Légion d'honneur

The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...

(for quotas reserved for former resistance).