France and Germany Star

The France and Germany Star is a military campaign medal instituted by the United Kingdom in May 1945 and awarded to personnel of British Commonwealth forces who served for one day or more on land, at sea, or in the air in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, or Germany between 6 June 1944 (D-Day) and 8 May 1945 (Victory in Europe Day).^[1]^[2] This medal recognized operational service during the final phase of the Allied campaign in Northwest Europe following the Normandy landings, encompassing the liberation of occupied territories and the advance into Germany.^[1] It was one of eight campaign stars issued for the Second World War, specifically honoring contributions to the D-Day invasion and subsequent battles such as Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge.^[2] Eligibility extended to Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, Merchant Navy, and Allied forces under British command, but excluded certain naval operations in the Mediterranean (which qualified for the Italy Star) and pre-D-Day RAF missions (eligible for the Air Crew Europe Star).^[3] The medal itself is a six-pointed star cast in yellow copper zinc alloy, measuring approximately 44 mm across the points.^[2] The obverse features the Royal Cypher "GRI VI" (for King George VI) surmounted by a crown, encircled by the inscription "THE FRANCE AND GERMANY STAR" in raised lettering.^[3] The reverse is plain and typically unnamed, though some Commonwealth countries like Australia engraved recipients' details.^[2] It is suspended from a ring and straight bar on a ribbon 32 mm wide, divided into five equal stripes of dark blue, white, red, white, and dark blue—symbolizing the Union Jack alongside the colors of the French and Dutch flags, though not explicitly representing Belgium or Luxembourg.^[3]^[2] Recipients could earn a silver clasp or bar for the ribbon if they also qualified for the Atlantic Star, but only one World War II star was issued per person, with the France and Germany Star taking precedence over earlier ones like the Atlantic or Air Crew Europe Stars.^[2] A silver rosette denoted such a bar when the ribbon was worn alone in undress uniform.^[3] The medal reflects the scale of Allied involvement in the European theater's concluding operations.

Historical Context

World War II Campaign Stars

The World War II campaign stars were a series of British military decorations instituted to recognize operational service by personnel of the British Armed Forces and allied Commonwealth forces in specific theaters of the Second World War. Approved by King George VI in May 1945, these stars were authorized following the end of hostilities in Europe, with the initial eight stars announced by Prime Minister Winston Churchill on behalf of the monarch.^[4] The design of the ribbons, featuring symbolic colors, was personally overseen by the King to reflect the nature of each campaign, marking a departure from traditional full medals in favor of simpler, tombac six-pointed stars for efficiency in production and distribution.^[5] This system allowed for up to five stars per individual (with the Arctic Star later permitting a sixth), often worn with clasps to denote multiple qualifications, and required prior award of the 1939–1945 Star as a prerequisite for most others.^[5] The campaign stars covered diverse operational areas from 1939 to 1945, emphasizing entry into active service zones rather than fixed durations in many cases to honor frontline contributions. Production of over ten million stars began in the late 1940s using tombac alloy, with distribution starting in late 1948 after personnel applied via postcards at post offices; by April 1950, around three million remained unclaimed due to logistical challenges like material shortages.^[6] A ninth star, the Arctic Star, was added retrospectively in 2013 to acknowledge service in Arctic convoys, reflecting ongoing recognition of overlooked contributions.^[5]

Star Name	Campaign Period	Key Eligibility Criteria	Ribbon Symbolism
1939–1945 Star	3 September 1939 – 8 May 1945	Six months' operational service (two months for air crew)	Dark blue, red, and light blue stripes representing Navy/Air Force, Army, and RAF
Atlantic Star	3 September 1939 – 8 May 1945	Six months' afloat service in the Atlantic	Blue-grey, white, and blue for ocean and waves
Air Crew Europe Star	3 September 1939 – 5 June 1944	Two months' operational flying over Europe (clasp to 1939–1945 Star)	Light blue with black and red central stripe for sky, enemy-occupied Europe, and bloodshed
Arctic Star	3 September 1939 – 8 May 1945	Service in Arctic waters or operations	Pale blue with white central stripe for snow and ice
Africa Star	10 June 1940 – 12 May 1943	One day's service in North Africa (clasps for 8th Army or 1st Army)	Light brown sand with central dark blue, red, and light blue stripes for desert, navy, army, and air force
Pacific Star	8 December 1941 – 2 September 1945	One day's service in Pacific theater	Dark green, dark blue, and red for jungle, sea, and Army/Air Force
Burma Star	11 January 1942 – 2 September 1945	One day's service in Burma campaign (clasp for 14th Army)	Dark blue with orange and red central stripes for British forces, sun/temples, and Commonwealth forces
Italy Star	11 June 1943 – 8 May 1945	One day's service in Italy or Sicily	Alternating white and red stripes with green borders for Italian colors and Italian mountains
France and Germany Star	6 June 1944 – 8 May 1945	One day's operational service in NW Europe	Dark blue, white, red, white, and dark blue in equal stripes for UK, France, and Netherlands

These stars formed the core of the British honors system for the war, prioritizing symbolic recognition over monetary reward and ensuring broad eligibility for the estimated 6.48 million personnel involved.^[4]^[6] The France and Germany Star, in particular, commemorated the Allied invasion of Normandy and subsequent liberation of Western Europe, requiring only one day of qualifying service to include even brief participants in this pivotal campaign.^[5]

Institution and Approval

The France and Germany Star was instituted in May 1945 by the United Kingdom government to recognize operational service by British and Commonwealth forces in the liberation of Northwest Europe during World War II. The creation of the medal was recommended by the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations, and Medals in Time of War, which advised Prime Minister Winston Churchill on the appropriate honors following the conclusion of hostilities in Europe. King George VI granted royal approval for the star, with the details formally presented to Parliament in May 1945 as part of an official statement on campaign awards.^[4]^[1] This institution aligned with the established protocol for British campaign stars, involving royal assent to ensure the award's legitimacy and precedence within the honors system. The star was one of several World War II campaign medals designed to commemorate specific theaters of operation, with eligibility tied to service from the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944 until Victory in Europe Day on 8 May 1945. The official announcement emphasized that recipients must have already qualified for the 1939-45 Star through prior operational service, preventing overlap and ensuring the France and Germany Star honored the final push against Nazi Germany.^[4] Within the British Commonwealth, the star was adopted through separate governmental authorizations to extend eligibility to forces from dominion countries. In Canada, for example, it was officially authorized for award on 16 August 1946 by the Governor General in Council, allowing over 230,000 Canadian personnel to receive it for qualifying service.^[7] Similar approvals were issued in Australia and New Zealand, where the medal was integrated into national honors frameworks under imperial award provisions, maintaining consistency across allied contributions to the campaign.^[8]

Eligibility

Qualifying Service

The France and Germany Star was awarded for operational service during the final campaign of World War II in North-West Europe, specifically from the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944 until the end of hostilities in Europe on 8 May 1945. Qualifying areas encompassed France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Germany, including adjacent territorial waters in the North Sea south of the Firth of Forth to Kristiansand South, the English Channel, and the Bay of Biscay east of 6° West longitude. Unlike earlier campaign stars, no minimum duration of service was required beyond entry into operational service or a single qualifying action.^[5]^[9]^[4] For Army personnel and Royal Air Force ground crew, qualification required at least one day of operational service on land within the specified areas, including airborne operations for paratroopers and glider troops. Royal Navy and Merchant Navy personnel qualified through one day of service afloat in the designated operational waters directly supporting land operations, or by entering the land areas while ashore on operational duties. Royal Air Force aircrew earned the star for one operational sortie over the qualifying areas during the period, excluding flights that qualified for the Atlantic Star or those originating from bases in the Mediterranean (which fell under the Italy Star). Service qualifying for the Air Crew Europe Star or Atlantic Star took precedence, with the France and Germany Star awarded only as a clasp in such cases.^[5]^[9]^[4] Special provisions applied to support roles integral to the campaign. Merchant seamen involved in towing Mulberry harbours to Normandy or laying the PLUTO (Pipeline Under The Ocean) fuel line across the Channel were eligible for one day of qualifying service. Civilians under the Council of Voluntary War Work or recognized press and photographic correspondents qualified after 28 days of operational service in the areas, subject to approval. Routine visits, inspections, or non-operational journeys did not count unless they exceeded 30 days and received special authorization from the appropriate authority.^[2]^[9]^[4]

Exclusions and Restrictions

A key restriction applied to overlapping campaigns within the group of Second World War stars, including the Atlantic Star, Air Crew Europe Star, and France and Germany Star. Eligible personnel received only the first star earned in chronological order, with a clasp (such as "Atlantic" or "Air Crew Europe") attached to denote subsequent qualifications; no third star or clasp was issued for the remaining one.^[5] This rule extended to Merchant Navy personnel, who earned only the initial star with a clasp for the other, avoiding duplicate awards for related service.^[10] Only one clasp could be worn on the star at a time.^[8] Exclusions focused on non-operational or extraneous service. Personnel serving solely in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, or areas outside France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, or Germany during the period from 6 June 1944 to 8 May 1945 were ineligible.^[2] Naval service required direct support of land operations in specified waters like the North Sea south of the Firth of Forth, the English Channel, or the Bay of Biscay east of 6° west longitude; incidental activities, such as brief stops for fuelling or repairs, did not qualify.^[4] For aircrew, operational sorties had to occur over the designated European areas, excluding those qualifying under Atlantic Star criteria.^[4] Time spent as a prisoner of war was not credited toward eligibility.^[4] Additionally, Army personnel entering Austria were directed to the Italy Star for recognition, as that service fell outside the France and Germany campaign.^[11]

Design

Medal Specifications

The France and Germany Star is a six-pointed star struck in yellow copper-zinc alloy, commonly referred to as bronze, with a height of approximately 44.5 mm and a width of 51 mm.^[12] The medal's design follows the standard format for British World War II campaign stars, featuring a plain reverse surface that is typically left blank for British and most Commonwealth recipients, though Australian and South African issues have the recipient's name and service details impressed on the reverse.^[2]^[8] The obverse displays the Royal Cypher "GRI VI" of King George VI in an ornate circular centrepiece, surmounted by a crown and encircled by a raised rim inscribed with the words "THE FRANCE AND GERMANY STAR" in full capitals.^[12] The star is suspended via a small ring fixed to the upper point, allowing it to be worn from the ribbon on the left breast, in line with the mounting conventions for other campaign medals of the era.^[13] No clasps were authorized for attachment to the star itself, distinguishing it from stars like the Air Crew Europe Star that permitted such additions.^[2]

Ribbon and Clasp

The ribbon of the France and Germany Star measures 32 mm in width and consists of five equal vertical stripes: dark blue, white, red, white, and dark blue.^[2] These colors symbolically represent the national flags of the United Kingdom (via the blue, white, and red of the Union Flag), France (blue, white, and red), and the Netherlands (red, white, and blue), reflecting the Allied campaign areas covered by the award.^[8] The design was approved as part of the medal's institution in May 1945 to denote service in Northwestern Europe from D-Day onward.^[5] No clasps were authorized for the France and Germany Star itself. However, recipients who qualified for this star after earning the Atlantic Star or Air Crew Europe Star received a "FRANCE AND GERMANY" clasp on the ribbon of the earlier star. Regulations permitted only one clasp per star, and no clasp from the Air Crew Europe Star was authorized for this star due to non-overlapping eligibility periods.^[5]^[8] When the full medal is not worn, the ribbon alone is displayed with a silver rosette emblem affixed to denote the award of a clasp on an earlier star, ensuring recognition of multiple qualifications without issuing multiple stars. This emblem, a small silver rose, slides onto the ribbon and complies with the overarching policy that only the earliest-earned star among the Atlantic, Air Crew Europe, and France and Germany Stars is issued and worn, with clasps denoting additional entitlements.^[5]^[8] The issuance of the "FRANCE AND GERMANY" clasp was common, as most overlapping qualifications involved adding it to earlier stars.^[14]

Recipients and Legacy

Award Statistics

The France and Germany Star was one of the more widely distributed World War II campaign medals among British Commonwealth forces, reflecting the extensive multinational operations in Northwest Europe from D-Day to the end of hostilities in the region. While comprehensive global totals are not publicly documented in official records, breakdowns by Commonwealth nation highlight the scale and diversity of recipients across services. The medal recognized operational service on land, at sea, or in the air, with eligibility often overlapping with other stars, leading to clasps in select cases for prior qualifiers of the Atlantic Star or Air Crew Europe Star. Canada issued the largest number of stars relative to its forces, awarding 230,000 to members of the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy, and Royal Canadian Air Force for qualifying service in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, or Germany between 6 June 1944 and 8 May 1945, or in adjacent waters.^[7] This substantial figure emphasizes Canada's pivotal role in key battles such as Normandy, the Scheldt, and the advance into Germany, where Canadian divisions formed a significant portion of the Allied ground forces. In Australia, approximately 4,700 stars were issued, predominantly to Royal Australian Air Force personnel involved in bomber operations over Europe and limited ground support units attached to British formations. These awards were typically unnamed except for impressed recipient details on the reverse, underscoring the smaller but critical Australian commitment to the European theater after earlier Pacific focus.^[15] South African recipients numbered 657, including aircrew, ground personnel, and those seconded to British units like the South African Air Force squadrons supporting RAF Bomber Command and army elements in British formations.^[16] This modest total aligns with South Africa's primary emphasis on African and Italian campaigns, with only select contingents deployed to Northwest Europe post-D-Day. Such statistics demonstrate the star's role in honoring the collaborative Allied push that liberated Western Europe, with awards distributed via national mints and administrative offices starting in 1946, often alongside the 1939-45 Star, Defence Medal, and War Medal 1939-45.

Notable Recipients and Significance

The France and Germany Star was awarded to several notable military figures for their service in the North-West Europe campaign from 1944 to 1945. Among the most distinguished recipients were Victoria Cross holders who demonstrated extraordinary bravery during key operations. Company Sergeant Major Stanley Hollis of the 6th Battalion, Green Howards, received the star alongside his VC, the only one awarded on D-Day itself, for his actions on 6 June 1944 at Gold Beach in Normandy, where he single-handedly neutralized German positions and rescued comrades under heavy fire.^[17] Similarly, Lieutenant (later Sir) Tasker Watkins of the 1st Battalion, Welch Regiment, was awarded the VC for leading assaults near Caen on 16 August 1944, capturing German positions despite being wounded multiple times; he also received the France and Germany Star for his operational service in the region.^[18] Another prominent recipient was Captain Richard Todd of the 7th (Airborne) Parachute Battalion, who earned the star for his role in Operation Tonga on D-Day, parachuting into France to secure Pegasus Bridge and later portraying the operation's leader, Major John Howard, in the 1962 film The Longest Day.^[19] Other notable recipients included Canadian Major David Currie, who received the VC for commanding tank actions in the Falaise Gap in August 1944, contributing to the encirclement of German forces, and thus qualified for the star as part of Commonwealth forces operating in Normandy. These individuals exemplify the diverse roles—from infantry assaults to armored advances—that the star recognized across British, Canadian, and other Commonwealth units. The France and Germany Star holds profound significance as the final campaign medal instituted for World War II service in Europe, symbolizing the Allied liberation of Nazi-occupied territories and the advance into Germany that precipitated the war's end on 8 May 1945.^[1] It underscored the scale of multinational cooperation, with over 230,000 awarded to Canadian personnel alone, reflecting the extensive involvement of Commonwealth forces in operations from D-Day landings to the Rhine crossing.^[7] Unlike earlier stars, its eligibility emphasized direct support to land operations in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Germany, highlighting the grueling final phase of the European theater that cost tens of thousands of lives but secured victory. The star's design and criteria also addressed overlaps with the Air Crew Europe Star, allowing a bar for qualifying aircrew, which emphasized the integrated air-land-sea efforts pivotal to success.^[5]

Precedence

Order of Wear

The France and Germany Star is positioned ninth in the sequence of World War II campaign medals and stars within the official Order of Wear established by the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood.^[20] This order requires campaign medals to be worn in the sequence of the dates of the campaigns to which they relate, following all orders of chivalry, decorations for gallantry and distinguished service, and preceding polar medals and commemorative medals.^[20] Specifically, among the World War II awards, it follows the Italy Star and precedes the Defence Medal, with the full sequence for that period being: 1939–1945 Star, Atlantic Star, Arctic Star, Air Crew Europe Star, Africa Star, Pacific Star, Burma Star, Italy Star, France and Germany Star, and Defence Medal.^[20] When recipients qualify for multiple stars from the interconnected Atlantic, Air Crew Europe, and France and Germany campaigns, only the first star earned is issued and worn, with a clasp bearing the name of the subsequent star(s) attached to its ribbon.^[5] This clasp, such as "France and Germany" on the ribbon of the Atlantic Star or Air Crew Europe Star, ensures that service across these overlapping operations is recognized without duplicating awards, maintaining the chronological precedence in wear.^[5] In formal wear, all medals are typically court-mounted on a bar to allow swinging, and the France and Germany Star is positioned according to its precedence regardless of the recipient's overall service record, though foreign awards approved for wear follow British medals unless otherwise specified by royal warrant.^[20] This standardized order, last updated in 2019, applies across the United Kingdom, Commonwealth realms, and British Overseas Territories.^[20]

Relation to Other Awards

The France and Germany Star is one of eight British Commonwealth campaign stars instituted for service during the Second World War.^[5] A key relation exists with the Atlantic Star and Air Crew Europe Star due to overlapping service periods in the European theater. Regulations stipulate that only the first of these three stars earned by a recipient is issued in full; subsequent qualifications result in a clasp—either "Atlantic" or "France and Germany"—attached to the ribbon of the initial star.^[5] Only one clasp is permitted per star, and service qualifying for a third star among these is not denoted by an additional clasp or separate award.^[21] For example, aircrew who earned the Air Crew Europe Star for operations from 5 June 1944 onward could receive a "France and Germany" clasp if their service extended into qualifying areas after D-Day, but without issuing the full France and Germany Star.^[22] In the official order of wear for United Kingdom honors, the France and Germany Star occupies the ninth position among Second World War campaign awards, following the Italy Star (for service from 11 June 1943 to 8 May 1945) and preceding the Defence Medal (for non-operational home service).^[20] This sequence is determined by the chronological start dates and durations of the respective campaigns, ensuring the France and Germany Star—covering operations from 6 June 1944 to 8 May 1945—is positioned after earlier European and North African theaters but before general service medals.^[5] When worn with clasps from related stars, a silver rose emblem on the ribbon denotes the clasp in undress uniform.^[4]