The France and Germany Star
Overview
The France and Germany Star was awarded for service in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and adjacent sea areas between 6 June 1944 and 8 May 1945.
Description
The France and Germany star is a bronze six-pointed star with a circular centre featuring the Royal Cypher "GRI VI". The cypher is surmounted by the Tudor crown and encircled with the inscription "THE FRANCE AND GERMANY STAR".
The ribbon represents the national colours of the United Kingdom, France, and the Netherlands. A central red stripe is bordered on either side by equal-sized stripes of white and edged with equal-sized stripes of blue.
Personnel qualifying for the Atlantic Star, the France and Germany Star, and/or the Aircrew Europe Star were awarded the first star they qualified for, and a clasp in respect of the second and/or third star. When ribbons only were worn on military uniform, a silver rose emblem on the ribbon denoted the award of a clasp.
Eligibility
The France and Germany Star was awarded for service of any length in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and adjacent sea areas between 6 June 1944 and 8 May 1945.
The full eligibility criteria for the eight Second World War campaign stars (instituted before 1947) and the two British war service medals can be viewed in Campaign Stars and Commemorative Medals instituted for the 1939-45 War, (PDF, 3.4 MB)a British Army pamphlet, issued in 1947 or 1948, which includes NZ Army handwritten annotations.
Queries & requests
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Wearing this medal
The France and Germany Star is worn as a war medal in the New Zealand Order of Wear. It is always worn after the Italy Star and before the Defence Medal.
For more information on how to wear and care for honours, medals, and awards:
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Applying for this medal
NZDF Personnel Archives and Medals (PAM) issues war, operational and service medals to current and former NZDF members.
If you or someone you know may be eligible, you can apply through our application page.
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Checking if this medal was issued
Honours, medals, and awards bestowed on an individual for service in the New Zealand Armed Forces are recorded in their individual service record. NZDF Personnel Archives and Medals holds a collection of about 1.5 million service records relating to 420,000 New Zealand service personnel who served in New Zealand’s Military Forces after the First World War.
Service records are not currently digitised, but we can locate it and find the information you might be looking for or help you book a time for you to see the records in Trentham by completing the form on the Service Record page.