The War Cross was awarded to Belgian military personnel (and in some cases to civilians, e.g. Resistance members) for valour in action against the enemy.

The obverse medallion of this bronze decoration depicts a rampant lion, the reverse the royal monogram of King Leopold III.

On 20 July 1941, the Belgian government in exile in London, instituted this bravery award which, like its WWI counterpart, could be embellished by a number of emblems placed on the ribbon : bronze or silver lions for mentions in despatches on regimental or army level resp., a bronze palm for mentions by the War Office, etc.