# What was the highest category of Croix de Guerre in WWI bronze palm or gold palm?

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**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 14, 2024, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-highest-category-of-croix-de-guerre-in-wwi-bronze-palm-or-gold-palm/1000264 "2024-04-14T14:11:20Z")\
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**Author:** ![Octagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/2acd7d/32.png) [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-highest-category-of-croix-de-guerre-in-wwi-bronze-palm-or-gold-palm/1000264/1 "2024-04-14T14:11:20Z")

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What was the highest category of Croix de Guerre in WWI bronze palm or gold palm? Neither Wikipedia nor Britannica mention it. Is there a Croix de Guerre with a gold palm ?

## [https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/remembering-henry-johnson-the-soldier-called-black-death-117386701/](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/remembering-henry-johnson-the-soldier-called-black-death-117386701/) France’s highest military honor. They were the first American privates to receive it. Johnson’s medal included the coveted Gold Palm, for extraordinary valor.

## [Croix de Guerre - World War I Centennial site](https://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/american-indians-in-ww1-awards/american-indians-in-ww1-croix-de-guerre.html) The Croix de Guerre was a medal with ribbon that was awarded with degrees based on the actions of the soldier and his role. The lowest degree was signified by the bronze star, while the highest was a bronze palm. Soldiers could receive multiple stars and palms for multiple acts of wartime gallantry. In some instances, whole military units and even French villages were awarded Croix de Guerres.

> **[Harlem Hellfighters - WWI, Discrimination, Fame | Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Harlem-Hellfighters/Discrimination-at-home-and-fame-abroad)**
>
> Harlem Hellfighters - WWI, Discrimination, Fame: In April 1917 the United States declared war on Germany, and the following month the 15th New York reported to Camp Peekskill, New York, for a short course of rifle training. The regiment was...

Johnson sustained 21 wounds in the engagement, and the French military awarded him the [Croix de Guerre](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Croix-de-Guerre)avec Palme for bravery (he was posthumously awarded the [Congressional Medal of Honor](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Medal-of-Honor-United-States-military-decoration) in 2015).

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**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-highest-category-of-croix-de-guerre-in-wwi-bronze-palm-or-gold-palm/1000264/2 "2024-04-14T14:23:05Z")

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According to [The Australian War Memorial](https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RELAWM14765)

> The Croix de Guerre was awarded for bravery to military personnel who were mentioned in dispatches. Recipients of the Légion d’Honneur and Médaille Militaire were automatically entitled to the Croix de Guerre. For subsequent acts of bravery, the recipient was awarded a bronze palm leaf for Army citations, a gold star for Corps citations, a silver star for Division citations or a bronze star for Brigade and Regimental citations.

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**Author:** ![Octagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/2acd7d/32.png) [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-highest-category-of-croix-de-guerre-in-wwi-bronze-palm-or-gold-palm/1000264/3 "2024-04-14T14:25:59Z")

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Thanks don\_t-ask. Everything I’ve read in French states the same.