The Patriot Files

Dutch Work Service Compet

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:16:41 -0700

by: David

Description: Dutch Work Service Competence Medal This medal was for Competent Service in the National Socialist Work Force of the NSB, the NAD. Until now it has only been found in a miniature version.

Memorial Cross 1940-1945

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:14:42 -0700

by: David

Description: Memorial Cross 1940-1945

The Memorial Cross 1939-1

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:13:52 -0700

by: David

Description: The Memorial Cross 1939-1940

Railroad Strike Medallion

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:12:45 -0700

by: David

Description: Railroad Strike Medallion

De Ruyter-medaille

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:11:39 -0700

by: David

Description: De Ruyter-medaille

Badge for the Wounded

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:09:15 -0700

by: David

Description: Badge for the Wounded Under the pressure of several Dutch Veteran organisations, the Dutch Government finally istituted a special Badge for the Wounded in October 1990 as an equivalent of the American Purple Heart. The decoration can be obtained when wounded during the cause of engeging enemy activities. It can also be awarded to members of the Merchant Marine. The injury can be either fysical or psychological trauma, endured in the cause of war or situations that can be compared to war, like peacekeeping enforcements. The decoration can also be obtained for injurys endured during wars in the past.

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Herinneringsinsigne Binne

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:07:59 -0700

by: David

Description: Herinneringsinsigne Binnenlandse Strijdkrachten 1944-1945

Herinneringsmedaille Voor

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:05:12 -0700

by: David

Description: Herinneringsmedaille Voorburgsche Burgerwacht,1940

Air Defence Service Medal

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:03:22 -0700

by: David

Description: Air Defence Service Medal

Borstkruis van de Stichti

David — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 00:00:50 -0700

by: David

Description: Borstkruis van de Stichting Vriendenkring van oud-Natzweilers 1940-1945

Resistance Memorial Cross

David — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 23:59:59 -0700

by: David

Description: Resistance Memorial Cross

Officierskruis

David — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 23:58:36 -0700

by: David

Description: Officierskruis

Medal of Gratitude

David — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 23:56:22 -0700

by: David

Description: Medal of Gratitude

Mobilisation War Cross 19

David — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 23:55:45 -0700

by: David

Description: Mobilisation War Cross 1939

War Commemorative Cross

David — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 23:54:44 -0700

by: David

Description: War Commemorative Cross

Dutch Flying Cross

David — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 23:51:54 -0700

by: David

Description: Dutch Flying Cross

Cross of Merit

David — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 23:50:56 -0700

by: David

Description: Cross of Merit

Bronze Cross

David — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 23:50:04 -0700

by: David

Description: Bronze Cross

The Resistance Star, East

David — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 23:49:23 -0700

by: David

Description: The Resistance Star, East Asia, 1942-45

Bronze Lion

David — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 23:47:12 -0700

by: David

Description: Bronze Lion

Honourable Mention

David — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 23:46:35 -0700

by: David

Description: Honourable Mention The crown attached to the ribbon represents the Honourable Mention.

Resistance Cross

David — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 23:44:30 -0700

by: David

Description: Resistance Cross When the Netherlands was liberated in May 1945, the Dutch government in London had succeeded in developing a good and balanced system of both military and civilian decorations. Apart from the already existing Military Order of William, new decorations aroused like the Bronze Lion, the Bronze Cross, the Cross of Merit and the Flyers Cross. Deeds of courage could be awarded in a very efficient way. However there was not a good decoration to award people of the resistance organisations. In surrounding countries the government had already succeeded in filling this gap. The Dutch government also tried to achieve this goal. Because of the fact that there could not be found an agreement whether deeds of resistance could be awarded with an existing Military Decoration or there was to be developed a special decoration, time passed on. Especially within the Dutch Resistance there was a forceful movement against the decoration of resistance deeds. During war, every deed of resistance was thought to be equal to any other. However, other countries did decorate Dutch resistance people. A significant number of Dutch people were awarded decorations like the British King?s Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom and the American Medal of Freedom for their resistance work. Strengthened by this the Dutch government pushed on. Apart from that it was a personal wish of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands that resistance work should be decorated. A special commission was formed to seek the possibilities. This Raad voor Onderscheiding en Eerbetoon ( Council for Decoration and Honour), with Prof. Ir. W. Schemerhorn, dr. L.J.M. Beel, J.M. de Booy, mr. E.N. van Kleffens, Prof. Dr. P. Lieftinck, mr. J. Meynen and General-major mr. H.J. Kruls, first asked the Grote Adviescommissie der Illegaliteit ( Great Committee of the Resistance, GAC) for advise on the matter. It should not be any surprise that this committee advised negative. On the other hand, another organisation of the former resistance, the former members of the Binnenlandse Strijdkrachten (Inland Forces B.S) that was formed at the end of the war by combining the forces of the many weaponed resistance groups in the Netherlands, did announce they were positive about decorating deeds of resistance. Finally the Dutch government took its own decision and on November 28th 1945, the order was given to the Rijksmunt to develop a new medal. Finally the choice was made for the Resistance Cross which was developed by L.O. Wenckenbach. By Royal Decree of May 3rd 1946 the Resistance Cross was finally instituted. The formal disruption was: ?The Bronze decoration of the Resistance Cross resembled a four armed cross, imbedded on a star of flames and covered with the Royal Crown. On the front one can find St. Joris fighting the dragon. On the arms of the cross are engraved the words ?Trouw tot in den dood?. On the obverse one can find a flaming sword wit two broken chains?, all according to article 4 of the Royal Decree. The ribbon is coloured in Crimson Red with two golden orange lines. Although presenting the decoration to a living person, a compromise was found with the opposing people of the former Dutch Resistance and the decoration was only given to people that already died. Only once this promise was broken, when on July 19th 1946 a Resistance Cross was awarded by Queen Wilhelmina to Gerard Tieman, living in the Blindeninstituut in Bussum (Home for the Blind). The first Resistance Crosses were awarded by Royal Decree of May 7th 1946 and were given to the relatives on May 9th of the same year. The group of people that was awarded was very carefully chosen from all the different groups of the Dutch Resistance movement. Very high rules were used to make the decoration one of the highest in ranking in the Dutch system, coming only second after the highest, the Military Order of William. The Resistance Cross was also awarded to foreign people for their part in the Dutch Resistance network. On October 24h 1946 the first ?foreign? decorations were awarded to Belgian Resistance Fighters. One remarkable Resistance Cross must not be forgotten. To commemorate the millions of Jews that were killed during the Second World War, there was to be build a monument in New York. Mr. E.N. Kleffens, then Dutch Ambassador in the United States was asked to be a member of the Commission of Recommendation for the monument to be called the ?American Memorial to six million martyred Jews and the Heroes of the Warsaw Ghetto Battle?. Kleffens was asked to present a decoration as forms of publicity for the monument. By his doing a Royal Decree no.4 was announced on October 17th 1947, giving a Resistance Cross to the ?Unknown Jewish Soldier of the Warsaw Ghetto who died for the Freedom of all People?. Although the monument never was finished, on the place of the monument in the Riverside Park a memorial stone was erected with the lines: ?This is the site for the American Memorial to the heroes of the Warsaw Ghetto Battle April-May 1943 and to the six million Jews of Europe martyred in the cause of human liberty?.

Member in the Order of Or

David — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 23:41:48 -0700

by: David

Description: Member in the Order of Oranje Nassau

Officer in the Order of O

David — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 23:40:35 -0700

by: David

Description: Officer in the Order of Oranje Nassau

Grand Officer in the Orde

David — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 23:39:09 -0700

by: David

Description: Grand Officer in the Order of Oranje Nassau

Knight Grand Cross in the

David — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 23:38:23 -0700

by: David

Description: Knight Grand Cross in the Order van Oranje Nassau

Knight in the Order van d

David — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 23:36:46 -0700

by: David

Description: Knight in the Order van deNederlandse Leeuw

Commander in the Order va

David — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 23:36:09 -0700

by: David

Description: Commander in the Order van de nederlandse Leeuw

Knight Grand Cross in the

David — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 23:35:33 -0700

by: David

Description: Knight Grand Cross in the Order van de Nederlandse Leeuw

Knight 4th Class of the M

David — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 23:25:29 -0700

by: David

Description: Knight 4th Class of the Militaire Willems Order

Knight 3rd Class of the M

David — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 23:24:55 -0700

by: David

Description: Knight 3rd Class of the Militaire Willems Order

Commander of the Militair

David — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 23:24:22 -0700

by: David

Description: Commander of the Militaire Willems Order

Grand Cross of the Milita

David — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 23:23:47 -0700

by: David

Description: Grand Cross of the Militaire Willems Order