France and Germany Star

• Name — The France and Germany Star • Presenter — the Monarch of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth, and Emperor of India • Country — * Illustration — x14px United Kingdom • Type — Military campaign medal • Eligibility — All Ranks • Awarded For — Entry into operational service • Campaign — North West Europe 1944-1945 • Clasps — ATLANTIC • Established — May 1945 • Precedence Label — Order of wear • Higher — Italy Star • Lower — Defence Medal • Related — Atlantic Star • Image2 — * Illustration — x29px • Illustration — x29px • Caption2 — Ribbon bar without and with rosette

On 8 July 1943, the 1939–43 Star (later named the 1939–1945 Star) and the Africa Star became the first two campaign stars instituted, and by May 1945 a total of eight stars and nine clasps had been established to reward campaign service during the Second World War. One more campaign star, the Arctic Star, and one more clasp, the Bomber Command Clasp, were belatedly added on 26 February 2013, more than sixty-seven years after the end of the war. Including the Arctic Star and the Bomber Command clasp, no-one could be awarded more than six campaign stars, with five of the ten clasps denoting service that would have qualified for a second star. Only one clasp could be worn on any one campaign star. The maximum of six possible stars are the following: • The 1939–1945 Star with, when awarded, either the Battle of Britain or the Bomber Command clasp. • Only one of the Atlantic Star, Air Crew Europe Star or France and Germany Star. Those earning more than one received the first qualified for, with the second denoted by the appropriate ribbon clasp. • The Arctic Star. • The Africa Star with, if awarded, the first earned of clasps for North Africa 1942–43, 8th Army or 1st Army. • Either the Pacific Star or Burma Star. Those earning both received the first qualified for, with the appropriate clasp to represent the second. • The Italy Star. All recipients of campaign stars also received the War Medal. Since only the first of the Atlantic Star, Air Crew Europe Star or France and Germany Star to be earned could be awarded to any one individual, the possible Star and Clasp combinations for these three campaign stars are: • The Atlantic Star with either the Air Crew Europe or France and Germany clasp. • The Air Crew Europe Star with either the France and Germany or Atlantic clasp. • The France and Germany Star with the Atlantic clasp. As a result of the different date ranges involved, the earlier period Air Crew Europe clasp could not be added to the later period France and Germany Star.

The Allies launched their campaign in North West Europe on 'D-Day', 6 June 1944, when British, American and Canadian forces landed on the beaches of Northern France. Over the following eleven months, these forces advanced across Western Europe while the Russians advanced towards Berlin from the East, Germany finally surrendering on 8 May 1945. 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.

The order of wear of the Second World War campaign stars was determined by their respective campaign start dates and by the campaign's duration. This is the order worn, even when a recipient qualified for them in a different order. The Defence Medal and War Medal are worn after the stars. The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal is worn after the Defence Medal and before the War Medal, with other Commonwealth war medals worn after the War Medal. • The 1939–1945 Star, from 3 September 1939 to 2 September 1945, the full duration of the Second World War. • The Atlantic Star, from 3 September 1939 to 8 May 1945, the duration of the Battle of the Atlantic and the War in Europe. • The Arctic Star, from 3 September 1939 to 8 May 1945, the duration of the Arctic Convoys and the War in Europe. • The Air Crew Europe Star, from 3 September 1939 to 5 June 1944, the period until D-Day minus one. • The Africa Star, from 10 June 1940 to 12 May 1943, the duration of the North African Campaign. • The Pacific Star, from 8 December 1941 to 2 September 1945, the duration of the Pacific War. • The Burma Star, from 11 December 1941 to 2 September 1945, the duration of the Burma Campaign. • The Italy Star, from 11 June 1943 to 8 May 1945, the duration of the Italian Campaign. • The France and Germany Star, from 6 June 1944 to 8 May 1945, the duration of the North West Europe Campaign. • The Defence Medal, from 3 September 1939 to 8 May 1945 (2 September 1945 for those serving in the Far East and the Pacific), the duration of the Second World War. • The War Medal, from 3 September 1939 to 2 September 1945, the full duration of the Second World War. The France and Germany Star is therefore worn as shown: • Illustration — Italy Star • Illustration — France and Germany Star • Illustration — Defence Medal (United Kingdom) • Preceded by the Italy Star. • Succeeded by the Defence Medal.