The War Commemorative Cross ( nl, Oorlogsherinneringskruis) is a
military award of the Netherlands. The medal was established to commemorate service to the
Kingdom of the Netherlands
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, image_map = Kingdom of the Netherlands (orthographic projection).svg
, map_width = 250px
, image_map2 = File:KonDerNed-10-10-10.png
, map_caption2 = Map of the four constituent countries shown to scale
, capital = ...
during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. The medal was established on 16 March 1944 by royal decree of
Queen Wilhelmina
Wilhelmina (; Wilhelmina Helena Pauline Maria; 31 August 1880 – 28 November 1962) was Queen of the Netherlands
The monarchy of the Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy. As such, the role and position of the monarch are governed by the ...
.
Appearance
The medal is an irregular bronze cross with concave ends on the arms. The
obverse
Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags, seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, ''o ...
bears a central portrait of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands encircled by a fastened garter. On the garter are the words ''VOOR KRIJCSVERRICHTINGEN'' (''FOR MILITARY OPERATIONS''). The arms of the cross bear the
royal monogram
Royal may refer to:
People
* Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name
* A member of a royal family
Places United States
* Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community
* Royal, Illinois, a village
* Royal, Iowa, a c ...
of Queen Wilhelmina with an oak wreath between the arms of the cross. The reverse is plain. The cross is mounted on an orange and green coloured ribbon wide.
Clasps
When the cross was established in 1944, the following clasps were initially awarded:
;General Military Operations
* ''KRIJG TER ZEE 1940-1944''
* ''OORLOGSVLUCHTEN 1940-1944''
* ''OORLOGSDIENST-KOOPVAARDIJ 1940-1944''
* ''OORLOGSDIENST-VISSERIJ 1940-1944''
* ''KRIJG TER LAND 1940-1944''
;Special Military Operations
* ''NEDERLAND MEI 1940''
* ''NEDERLANDSCH-INDIË 1941-1942''
* ''JAVA-ZEE 1941-1942''
* ''NOORD-AFRIKA-ITALIË 1942-1944''
In 1947, a revised royal decree was promulgated and new clasps were announced in the Official Gazette No I 6 on 6 January 1948:
;General Military Operations
* ''KRIJG TER ZEE 1940-1945''
* ''OORLOGSVLUCHTEN 1940-1945''
* ''OORLOGSDIENST-KOOPVAARDIJ 1940-1945''
* ''OORLOGSDIENST-VISSERIJ 1940-1945''
* ''KRIJG TE LAND 1940-1945''
;Special Military Operations
* ''NEDERLAND MEI 1940''
* ''NEDERLANDS-INDIË 1941-1942''
* ''JAVAZEE 1941-1942''
* ''MIDDELLANDSE ZEE 1940-1945'' (replaced ''NOORD-AFRIKA-ITALIË 1942-1944'')
* ''ARNHEM–NIJMEGEN–WALCHEREN 1944''
* ''NORMANDIË 1944''
* ''OOST-AZIË–ZUID-PACIFIC 1942-1945''
References
{{reflist
Military awards and decorations of the Netherlands