France and Germany Star

The France and Germany Star was a campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in World War II.

The medal was awarded for operational service in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Germany from 6 June 1944 (D-Day) to 8 May 1945. The qualifying sea area is the North Sea south of a line from the Firth of Forth to Kristiansand (South), in the English Channel and in the Bay of Biscay east of longitude 6° west, provided such service was directly in support of land operations in France, Belgium, the Netherlands or Germany.

British uniform regulations stipulated that neither the Atlantic Star nor the Air Crew Europe Star would be awarded to a recipient of the France and Germany Star. Subsequent entitlement to the Atlantic Star was denoted by the award of the Atlantic clasp. A clasp for the Air Crew Europe Star was not issued as that Star could not be earned after 5 June 1944.

Army personnel who entered Austria may not qualify for this award, as their service is recognised by the grant of the Italy Star.

[edit] Description

 * The France and Germany Star is a six–pointed star of yellow copper zinc alloy, with a height of 44mm and a maximum width of 38mm.
 * The obverse has a central design of the Royal Cypher of King George VI, surmounted by a crown. The cypher is surrounded by a circlet containing the words 'The France and Germany Star'.
 * The reverse is plain, although Stars issued to Australian and South African personnel have recipient names impressed.
 * The ribbon for this medal, along with those of the other Second World War campaign stars, is reputed to have been designed by King George VI. Red, white, and blue were chosen as being symbolic of the national colours of France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

[edit] Clasps
When the ribbon is worn alone a silver rosette ribbon emblem is worn to denote the award of a clasp.
 * Atlantic
 * Awarded to those who subsequently became entitled to the Atlantic Star.

[edit] See also

 * British campaign medals
 * Australian campaign medals

[edit] Bibliography

 * Mackay, J and Mussel, J (eds) - Medals Yearbook - 2006, (2005), Token Publishing.
 * Joslin, Litherland, and Simpkin (eds), British Battles and Medals, (1988), Spink

[edit] References
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 * UK MoD site
 * Records of WW2 Medals issued to Merchant Seamen from The National Archives.
 * ADF Honours and Awards
 * Stephen Stratford Medals site
 * Veterans Affairs Canada site
 * NZDF Medals site
 * France and Germany Star Regulations from NZDF site