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The Order of the Cross of Liberty

 

On 16 December 1940, the Crosses and Medals of Liberty of the Liberation War (1918) were used as a basis for the institution of the Order of the Cross of Liberty. The Order was set up as an award system for bravery or meritorious services rendered.

Grand Cross military

 1st Class military
Grand Cross - military (breast star depicted) or civil division Cross of Liberty 1st Class - military (picture) or civil division
2nd Class military2nd Class civilian 3rd Class military3rd Class civil, obverse3rd Class civil, reverse
Cross of Liberty 2nd Class - military (left) or civil division (right) Cross of Liberty 3rd Class - military (left) or civil division (middle and right)
4th Class military4th Class civilian, obverse4th Class civilian, reverse 4th class civilian on 1939 ribbonSf-lib-4home.jpg (31832 bytes)
Cross of Liberty 4th Class military and civil division - It should be noted that many variations exist, e.g. the Cross 4th class with homefront ribbon (right), awarded to civilians who participated in combat, which has the insignia of a military cross with a civil ribbon. Also note that the ribbon for the civil division was red with white stripes in 1939, yellow with red stripes from 1941 onwards.
1st Class Medal, obverse1st Class Medal, reverse Medal of Merit 1st Class (no picture)
Medal of Liberty 1st Class
2nd Class Medal Medal of Merit 2nd Class
Medal of Liberty 2nd Class Medal of Merit 2nd Class

 

Special Awards of the Order of the Cross of Liberty :

Mannerheim Cross 1st Class Mannerheim Cross 2nd Class
Mannerheim Cross 1st Class Mannerheim Cross 2nd Class
Medal of Liberty 1st Class with rosette (no picture) Golden Medal of Liberty (no picture)
Mourning CrossSf-lib-mournxr.jpg (12250 bytes) Medal of Mourning (no picture)
Cross of Mourning
 
Notes :
The Military Division has "swords" (2 armoured arms holding a sword).
Oakleaves can be worn on the Military Division crosses if awarded for bravery (only with reverse dated 1941 awards),
The 1st Class Cross can be awarded with or without a breast star,
Crosses 2nd, 3rd, 4th Class and Medals 1st and 2nd Class can be awarded with a red cross.
4th Class military division with oakleaves 4th class, civil division with red crossMedals 1st and 2nd class with red cross
Oakleaves Red Cross

 

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Copyright Hendrik Meersschaert 1998,2002 ©