Czechoslovak War Cross 1918
Encyclopedia
The Czechoslovak War Cross 1918 (Československý válečný kříž 1918 in Czech
) 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.
and Austria
who had served in the Czechoslovak armed forces ( e.g. Czechoslovak Legions
) during the years of the Great War with distinction and bravery, and also during border conflicts with Poland and Hungary.
The Czechoslovak War Cross was also, on occasion, issued to veterans of the Allied powers who had played a large role in World War I and were considered contributors to the formation of the Czechoslovak state. John J. Pershing
was one such recipient of the Czechoslovak War Cross.
It was also awarded to the capital city of Serbia
, Belgrade
, on October 8, 1925.
above, Slovakia
below, Moravia left and Silesia
to the right. On the reverse the circles featured vermeil linden leaves, with the letters "ČS" (Česko-Slovensko, meaning Czecho-Slovakia) in the middle. The medal was suspended from a white ribbon with red stripes.
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...
) 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
The medal was first created on November 7, 1918 and issued to Czechoslovak citizens and also, upon application, to citizens of GermanyGermany
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 ( e.g. Czechoslovak Legions
Czechoslovak Legions
The Czechoslovak Legions were volunteer armed forces composed predominantly of Czechs and Slovaks fighting together with the Entente powers during World War I...
) during the years of the Great War with distinction and bravery, and also during border conflicts with Poland and Hungary.
The Czechoslovak War Cross was also, on occasion, issued to veterans of the Allied powers who had played a large role in World War I and were considered contributors to the formation of the Czechoslovak state. John J. Pershing
John J. Pershing
John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing, GCB , was a general officer in the United States Army who led the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I...
was one such recipient of the Czechoslovak War Cross.
It was also awarded to the capital city of Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
, on October 8, 1925.
Design
The medal was dye-struck and high in detail, with a bronze finish. On the obverse of the cross was the symbols of the lands in circles – the symbol of the BohemiaBohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
above, Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
below, Moravia left and Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
to the right. On the reverse the circles featured vermeil linden leaves, with the letters "ČS" (Česko-Slovensko, meaning Czecho-Slovakia) in the middle. The medal was suspended from a white ribbon with red stripes.