The Cross of the Resistance Volunteer Combatant () is a French decoration that recognizes, as its name implies, those who fought in one of the resistance groups, or who were deported or interned for acts of resistance, or who were killed or injured while taking parts in acts of resistance against the German occupation forces during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

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

Award statute

The Croix du combattant volontaire de la Résistance was created to honour 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 and secondly, the rank of Chevalier of the

Légion d'honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and Civil society, civil. Currently consisting of five cl ...

(for quotas reserved for former resistance fighters). A 1989 law removed all previously enacted time constraints for application of the status of resistance volunteer combatant.

Award description

The Cross of the Resistance Volunteer Combatant, a design of engraver Frédéric de Vernon, is a 36 mm wide

cross pattée A cross pattée or cross patty (, ), also known as a cross formée or cross formy, or even a Templar cross, is a type of Christian cross with arms that are narrow at the centre and often flared in a curve or straight line shape to be broader at th ...

made of gilt bronze. On the obverse, over the central medallion of the cross, a relief

Cross of Lorraine The Cross of Lorraine (), known as the Cross of Anjou in the 16th century, is a heraldry, heraldic two-barred cross, consisting of a vertical line crossed by two shorter horizontal bars. In most renditions, the horizontal bars are "graded" with ...

overflowing onto the four cross arms which are covered in laurel leaves. On the reverse, the relief inscription on three lines on the central medallion COMBATTANT VOLONTAIRE RÉSISTANCE. The cross is suspended by a ring through a suspension loop which is an integral part of the top of the upper cross arm. It hangs from a 36 mm wide black silk moiré ribbon with 5 mm wide red vertical edge stripes, it is further divided by four vertical 1 mm wide green stripes, two at centre spaced 2 mm apart and one on each side 2 mm from the red edge stripes.

Notable recipients (partial list)

*Resistance fighter Paul Rivière *Resistance leader captain André Girard *Resistance leader Maxime Blocq-Mascart *Resistance fighter

Léon Weil Léon Roger Weil (16 July 1896 – 6 June 2006) was one of the last two surviving veterans of the battle of Val-de-Marne in the First World War. He was almost 110 when he died at the Val-de-Grâce military hospital in Paris, France. Joining ...

*Resistance leader

Andrée Peel Andrée Peel (3 February 1905 – 5 March 2010) was a member of the French Resistance during the Second World War who worked against the German occupation of France. She was known as Agent Rose, a code name shared with Eileen Nearne. Early l ...

*Lieutenant-colonel Marius Guyot *Resistance fighter René Martin *Master corporal André Verrier *Resistance fighter Georges Toupet *Father Maurice Cordier *Resistance fighter Paul Gosset *Junior lieutenant Louis Cortot *Resistance fighter René Renard *Filmmaker resistance fighter Jean Devaivre *Jewish resistance fighter Yvette Lévy *Resistance fighter Henri Gallet *Resistance fighter Georges Caussanel *Resistance leader Roger Taillefer *Resistance fighter Didier Eloy *Major Yves de Daruvar *Resistance fighter Hélène Berthaud * Hilaire du Berrier *Resistance meeting manager Catherine Dior

External links

Museum of the Legion of Honour

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Croix du combattant volontaire de la Resistance Military awards and decorations of France Awards established in 1953 French Resistance 1953 establishments in France Military awards and decorations of World War II Awards and decorations for military volunteers

Award statute

Award description

Notable recipients (partial list)

See also

External links

References