France & Germany Star

Eligibility

The France and Germany Star was instituted by the United Kingdom in May 1945, for award to those who had served in operations on land or in the air in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Holland or Germany from 6 June 1944 until the end of active hostilities in Europe on 8 May 1945, as well as for Naval and Merchant Navy service directly in support of these land operations. Air crew who flew on operations against the enemy over Europe on or after 6 June 1944 qualified by one operational sortie. In order of wearing, the France and Germany Star comes immediately before the Defence Medal, and after the Italy Star, if worn.

Description

As with the other campaign stars, it was designed by the Royal Mint engravers. They all have a ring suspender which passes through an eyelet formed above the uppermost point of the star. They are six–pointed stars, struck in yellow copper zinc alloy to fit into a 44 mm diameter circle, with a maximum width of 38 mm and 50 mm high from the bottom point of the star to the top of the eyelet.

The obverse has a central design of the Royal Cypher "GRI VI", surmounted by a crown. A circlet, the top of which is covered by the crown, surrounds the cypher and is inscribed "THE FRANCE AND GERMANY STAR". The reverse is plain.