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    Posted

    Hi,

    can someone tell me something about this French medals?

    I think they are given to a Foreign Legionnaire.

    Many thanks and best wishes

    Chris

    Posted (edited)

    Hi

     

    the medals are from left to right Croix du combattant, Medaille coloniale, Croix du combattant volontaire, Medaille commemorative Indochine.

     

    Unfortunately I cannot say if they are "zeitgenössische Originale".

     

    Michael

    Edited by aubagne98
    Posted (edited)

    Hello Chris

     

    This group of medals may have been to the same person. The recent manufacture  Croix du combattant volontaire without dates or clasp  is a problem.

     

    The decoration with this particular ribbon and dates 1939-1945 was awarded to military personnel who volunteered  for the duration in WW2 . 

    The only men in the Foreign Legion who received the cross were members of special wartime regiments created in 1939 and disbanded in 1940 after the German victory ( 21e, 22e & 23e Régiments de Volontaires etrangers).

    The same holds true for the few hundred volunteers who joined in 1944 for the duration whose medal groups include the 1939-1945 Commemorative medal. The regiments were : 13e Demi-Brigade de la Legion etrangere, Regiment de Marche de la Legion etrangere and 1er Regiment Etranger de Cavalerie.

     

    The benefit of this cross was later extended to other conflicts and the cross itself is not dated. Clasps on the ribbon indicate which conflict it is awarded for. Foreign Legionnaires are not considered to be volunteers for such wars since the are professionnals. This would apply for the Indochina campaign for which the group would have been awarded.

     

     

    Veteran

    Edited by Veteran
    Posted

    H

     

    TForeign Legionnaires are not considered to be volunteers for such wars since the are professionnals. This would apply for the Indochina campaign for which the group would have been awarded.

     

     

    Veteran

    Hi,

     

    Indeed... that is a pain.... however, I read that guys who extended their contract to go to war zone do qualify... in the French army you always need 6 months left on your contract when you go back to france.... so if 2 guys need to be sent to Afghanistan for 6 months... one guy still has 13 months on his contract, one guy 11.... the guy with 11 months has to extend another 6 months... (extentions are minimum 6 months) so he would still have more than 6 months when he gets back... the 5 months he WOULD have had are not enough, and he could then not be sent overseas for 6 months (Could however for 4 months)... If he extended... he would qualify for the medal...

     

    I remember in Desert Storm we had a guy sent back halfway through the tour... he had planned to open a karate Club and refused to extend... so they had to send him back so he would still have 6 months in France...

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