A foreign decoration awarded to those individuals distinguishing themselves by acts of heroism involving combat with enemy forces. The medal is also awarded to those who have been "mentioned in dispatches," meaning a heroic deed was performed meriting a citation from an individual's headquarters unit. The unit award of the Croix de Guerre was issued to military commands who performed heroic deeds in combat and were subsequently recognized by headquarters. The Croix de Guerre (French for War cross) is a military decoration of both France and Belgium, where it is also known as Oorlogskruis (Dutch). It was first created in 1915 in both countries. The decoration was awarded throughout World War I and again during World War II. The Croix de Guerre was also commonly bestowed to foreign military forces allied to France and Belgium. The Croix de guerre may either be bestowed as an individual medal or as a unit award. The Belgian Croix de Guerre was issued in varying degrees : (1) a bronze lion for those who had been cited at the regiment level; (2) a silver lion for those who had been cited at the brigade level; (3) a gold lion for those who had been cited at the division level; (4) a bronze palm for those who had been cited at the army level. A silver palm is used for five bronze ones and a gold one for five silver ones. The Croix de guerre would be awarded with the different type of attachment, such as the Croix de guerre avec palme et étoile (War cross with palm and star) or the Croix de guerre avec palme et lion.