Six French medals

1. L'ordre national de la Légion d'honneur (Order of the Legion of Honour), first instituted by Napoleon on 19.05.1802. Enamelled metal on red cloth ribbon. Five-pointed white star with golden rim on a wreath of green leaves, centrally a round medallion. In it, on a golden ground, an antique headpiece on the side of a woman (Marianne?) with a laurel wreath as a symbol of the French Republic. On blue border around the head relief in golden capital: REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE 1870.

On the reverse of the cross, also in a blue and gold medallion, depiction of two crossed French flags (blue-white-red), circumscription of the medallion: HONEUR ET PATRIE.

The cross is joined to the red ribbon by a laurel wreath of green enamelled metal. 2. Croix de guerre 1939-1945 (War Cross): first created 26.9.1939. On the red ribbon with four green stripes, on top a five-pointed star of bronze.

The decoration consists of a bronze Greek cross with widened ends (cross of paws) with two crossed swords. In the centre a medallion with the side headpiece of Marianne with Phrygian cap and laurel wreath. Inscription of the medallion in capital letters: Rebublique Francaise.

On the reverse in the medallion the year: 1939. 3. Médaille commémorative de la guerre 1914-1918 (War Memorial Medal).

Round bronze medal (33 mm diameter), on one side headpiece of the goddess Minerva in side view. She wears the French military helmet of 1914, representing the French nation. On the other side of the medal the central inscription GRANDE GUERRE 1914-1918, around it the inscription REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE.

The medal hangs on a white ribbon with five red stripes.

It was awarded to French and foreign military officers and deserving civilians until 1935. 4 La Médaille militaire (Military Medal), titled 1852. Silver gilt, other metals, 28 mm diameter. Round medal, on one side female headpiece with laurel wreath in side view (replacing the effigy of Louis Napoleon since the III Republic 1870), inscription REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE. On the other side of the medal the inscription VALEUR ET DISCIPLINE (Courage and Discipline).

Attached to a yellow ribbon with green side stripes, the connecting piece with the medal is designed in metal and depicts a suit of armour, swords and crossed canons.

It was awarded to sub-officers and enlisted men of the French Army, and in some cases to higher ranks and foreigners. 5. Croix de guerre 1939-1945 (War Cross), as above, but without the bronze star on the ribbon. 6. Croix du combattant (Front Combatant Cross), awarded in 1930 for front combatants of the 1st World War (1948 and later extended for front combatants of the 2nd World War and subsequent wars). Bronze, diameter 36 mm. Paw cross with round medal in the centre, in which the headpiece in side view is wearing the so-called Adrian helmet (helmet model M15 of the French troops in WW1), circumscription in capital ""REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE"", overleaf in the medal depiction of a sword, with the point downwards, circumscription in capital ""CROIX DE COMBATTANT"".

The ribbon shows seven vertical red stripes on a light blue background.