Medal of a liberated France explained

Medal of a liberated France
Presenter:France
Type:Decoration
Eligibility:Military and civilian French and foreign nationals
Awarded For:Participation in the liberation of France in the Second World War
Status:Not awarded since 1957
Established:12 September 1947
Lastawarded:7 July 1957
Total Awarded:13,469
Higher:Médaille commémorative de la guerre 1939–1945
Lower:Insigne du réfractaire au STO

The Medal of a liberated France (French: "Médaille de la France libérée") was a decoration of the French Republic created by decree on 12 September 1947 and originally named the "Medal of Gratitude of a Liberated France" (French: "Médaille de la Reconnaissance de la France Libérée").[1] It was intended as a reward for French and foreign nationals that had made a notable contribution to the liberation of France from the German occupation.

A decree of 7 October 1947 defined the medal's design and added it would be awarded under the authority of the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Victims of War (French: Ministre des Anciens Combattants et Victimes de guerre) on advice from a board composed of twenty-one members including the President of the National Assembly, the Vice-President of the State Council, a representative of the National Council of the Resistance, a general officer and a representative of the Justice Ministry.[2]

A later decree of 16 June 1948 gave it its present name and added a member from the Interior Ministry to the board charged with selecting recipients from the applications. A further decree of 4 June 1949 followed by ministerial instructions on 1 December 1950 redefined both the composition of the board and award prerequisites.[1]

The board was composed of:

Award statute

The Medal of a liberated France could be awarded:

Recipients of the following French awards received in conjunction with the liberation of France could not receive the Medal of a liberated France:

[1]

Award description

The Medal of a liberated France was a 35mm in diameter circular medal struck from bronze. The obverse bore the relief image of France with the relief date "1944" at its center. A relief chain encircles the image of France with two breaks in its links, one North-east, the other South-west, symbolizing the allied landings. The reverse bore the relief image of a Fasces below a Phrygian cap bisecting the initials "R.F." and the relief inscription "LA FRANCE A SES LIBERATEURS" (English: "FRANCE TO ITS LIBERATORS") along the upper and lower circumference.[2]

The medal hung from a 36mm wide rainbow coloured silk moiré ribbon, the colours placed opposite those of the ribbon of the 1914–1918 Inter-Allied Victory medal with the purple at center.[2]

Notable recipients (partial list)

See also

References


External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Battini . Jean . Witold . Zaniewicki . Guide pratique des décorations françaises actuelles . Paris . LAVAUZELLE . 2003 . 385 . 2-7025-1030-2 .
  2. Web site: France Phaléristique web site . Marc Champenois . 2004-01-01 . fr . 2013-12-01 .
  3. Book: Spencer C. Tucker. World War II at Sea: An Encyclopedi. Tucker. Spencer C.. 2011. ABC-CLIO.
  4. Web site: Rapport d'Augustin Le Maresquier sur ses activités de résistance. FranceArchives. fr. 2020-04-29.
  5. Web site: Royal Air Force. Royal Air Force. en-gb. 2020-04-29.

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