History

The Commemorative War Cross was established by Royal Decree in 1944. It was awarded to military personnel for at least 6 months of meritorious service and good conduct with the Dutch Armed Forces, the merchant marine, or the civil air service after May 10, 1940.

This Cross could be awarded with a number of clasps. The clasps for general service include:
- "KRIJG TE LAND" 1940-1945 (War on Land)
- "KRIJG TER ZEE" 1940-1945 (War at Sea)
- "OORLOGSVLUCHTEN 1940-1944" (War Flights)
- "OORLOGSDIENST-KOOPVAARDIJ 1940-1944" (War Service, Merchant Navy)
- "OORLOGSDIENST-VISSERIJ 1940-1944" (War Service, Fishery).
Clasps for special operations include:
- "NEDERLAND MEI 1940" (Netherlands, May 1940)
- "NEDERLANDSCH-INDIË 1941-1942" (Dutch Indies)
- "JAVA-ZEE 1941-1942"
- "MIDDELANDSE ZEE 1940-1945"
- "ARNHEM - NIJMEGEN - WALCHEREN 1944"
- "NORMANDIE 1944"
- "OOST-AZIË - ZUID-PACIFIC 1943-1945" (West Asia-South Pacific).

The Bronze Cross features an obverse inscription that translates to “For War Operations.”