France & Germany Star

The France and Germany Star was actually awarded to servicemen who saw operational service in North West Europe, which was to include Belgium and Holland, as well as France and Germany.

Army personnel had to take part in any operational service on land in North West Europe during the period 6 June 1944 (D Day) and 8 May 1945. Recipients of this medal did not need to qualify for the 1939 - 1945 Star. Those soldiers who took part in Operation Market Garden received this medal.

For the Royal and Merchant Navies, the qualification was to be in the direct support of operations in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany, in the North Sea south of a line from the Firth of Forth to Kristiansand, in the English Channel, or the Bay of Biscay east of longitude 6 degrees West. Service ashore also walifeid for this medal. Those who served off the South of France did not qualify for this star, but qualified for the Italy Star instead.

For the RAF, aircrew had to take part in an operational sortie over Europe between 6 June 1944 and 8 May 1945. RAF aircrew who flew operations over Europe, starting from Mediterranean bases, did not qualify for the France & Germany star but the Italy Star. Non-Aircrew had to qualify under the Army rules.

The medal itself is a bronze six pointed star with the Royal Cipher "GRI VI" in the centre, surmounted by a crown with the inscription "THE FRANCE AND GERMANY STAR". The reverse is plain and blank as with all Second World War Stars.

Recipients who subsequently qualified for the Atlantic Star or Air Crew Europe Star were awarded the clasp ATLANTIC or AIR CREW EUROPE, which was worn on the ribbon.

The ribbon is 1.25" wide and has equal stripes of blue, white and red and signifies the the flags of France and the Netherlands flags.

This medal was awarded for some of the most dangerous and definitely decisive operations of the Second World War, and included the D-Day landings and the liberation of occupied countries.