Beautiful antique War medals in a lovely frame with the soldier's picture below his medals. The backing is velvet. The frame has an easel stand as well as a metal loop hanger. Both are in perfect condition.
The left medal is a French Médaille militaire (Military Medal). Specifically, it is the Third Republic version issued between 1870 and 1951. The Médaille militaire was first established in 1852 by Emperor Napoleon III. It is the third-highest decoration awarded by the French Republic, ranking right below the Legion of Honor and the Order of Liberation. It serves as the highest active, purely military decoration for non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel. It is awarded for bravery in action against enemy forces.
The right medal is the French Croix de Guerre (War Cross) with two stars. This military decoration was established in 1915 to honor individual acts of bravery during World War I. A bronze Maltese cross with crossed swords between the arms. The attachments pinned to the ribbon represent individual citations or mentions in official military dispatches. Each star corresponds to the level of command that officially recognized the soldier's actions:
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Bronze Star: Denotes a citation at the regiment or brigade level.
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Silver Star: Denotes a citation at the division level.
- Gold Star: Denotes a citation at the army corps level
This is a beautiful framed piece honoring a war veteran.
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