Czechoslovak War Cross 1918
| Czechoslovak War Cross 1914-1918 Československý válečný kříž 1914-1918 | |
|---|---|
 The medal's obverse (left) and reverse (right). | |
| Type | Chest order |
| Eligibility | Military personnel |
| Campaign(s) | World War I and interwar era |
| Established | November 7, 1918 |
 Czechoslovak War Cross 1918 ribbon | |
The Czechoslovak War Cross 1918 (Československý válečný kříž 1918 in Czech) is a military decoration of the former state of Czechoslovakia which was issued for acts of military valour during the years of the First World War.
Description
The medal was first created on November 7, 1918 and issued to Czechoslovak citizens and also, upon application, to citizens of Germany and Austria who had served in the Czechoslovak armed forces ( e.g. Czechoslovak Legions) during the years of the Great War with distinction and bravery, and also during border conflicts with Poland and Hungary.
The Czechoslovak War Cross was also, on occasion, issued to veterans of the Allied powers who had played a large role in World War I and were considered contributors to the formation of the Czechoslovak state. John J. Pershing was one such recipient of the Czechoslovak War Cross.
It was also awarded to the capital city of Serbia, Belgrade, on October 8, 1925.
Design
The medal was dye-struck and high in detail, with a bronze finish. On the obverse of the cross was the symbols of the lands in circles – the symbol of the Bohemia above, Slovakia below, Moravia left and Silesia to the right. On the reverse the circles featured vermeil linden leaves, with the letters "ČS" (Česko-Slovensko, meaning Czecho-Slovakia) in the middle. The medal was suspended from a white ribbon with red stripes.