Cruz de Guerra

The badge of the decoration is made of bronze and has a shape similar to that of a Maltese cross. The design of the cross was built from a complex intersection of five circumferences. The cross badge was identical for all classes. Based on Article. 1 of the Decree of 1917 on the obverse, in the center of the cross in a circle, there is a drawing depicting the profile of a woman's head with a laurel wreath, which symbolizes the republic, and around this drawing there is an inscription in REPÚBLICA PORTUGESA 1917 (Republic of Portugal 1917). The design is clearly based on the French medal of the same name. On the reverse of the badge, there is the coat of arms of Portugal in the central part within a circle. The designation of individual classes of the cross was on the ribbon of the cross. And so: • Class I was marked with a ribbon device in the form of a golden cross surrounded by a laurel wreath, • Class II - a golden cross, • Class III - a silver cross, • Class IV - did not have a device. On the basis of the decree of 1946 the appearance of the badge was changed. On the obverse of the badge there is the coat of arms of Portugal (like the reverse from the pattern from 1917), while on the reverse there is the inscription Cruz de Guerra (Military Cross) in a circle. Another change in the appearance of the badge took place on the basis of the decree of 1971, when two crossed swords and a laurel wreath were placed on the reverse in the center of the cross in a circle, while the obverse remained identical as in the decree of 1946. The medal was worn on a red ribbon with seven narrow green stripes. Symbols of individual classes were placed on the ribbon, a decoration in the form of: • PTCdGIClass I: a golden cross with a laurel wreath • PTCdGIIClass II: a gold cross • PTCdGIIIClass III: a silver cross

Pursuant to the statute of 1917, this decoration could be awarded to officers and soldiers of the Portuguese army for deeds performed in the face of the enemy on the battlefield, and above all for courage, determination, cold blood and other praiseworthy deeds during the fight. Based on Article. 9 of the decree of 1946, in addition to Portuguese soldiers, the decoration could be awarded to soldiers of other armies cooperating with Portuguese troops, as well as civilians, both Portuguese citizens and foreigners. Whereas Art. 14 of the decree of 1971 specifies that the decoration may be awarded to Portuguese soldiers, as well as civilians, both Portuguese citizens and foreigners cooperating with the Portuguese army.