Médaille de la Résistance

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Medaille de la Resistance
Médaille with rosette
Awarded by France
Type	Medal. Two degrees : simple medal and medal with rosette
Awarded for	"remarkable acts of faith and of courage that, in France, in the empire and abroad, have contributed to the resistance of the French people against the enemy and against its accomplices since June 18, 1940"
Status	Discontinued since 1947
Statistics
Established	February 9, 1943
Precedence
Next (higher)	Croix de la valeur militaire
Next (lower)	ordre des Palmes académiques
Ribbon bar of the Medal

The French Médaille de la Résistance (Resistance Medal) was awarded by General Charles de Gaulle "to recognise the remarkable acts of faith and of courage that, in France, in the empire and abroad, have contributed to the resistance of the French people against the enemy and against its accomplices since June 18, 1940".

The French Medal of Resistance was given to approximately 44,000 living persons and 20,000 posthumously, awarded both for membership of the Free French forces and for participation in the metropolitan clandestine Resistance during the German occupation of France in World War II. Higher deeds were rewarded with the Ordre de la Libération. The medal ceased to be awarded on December 31, 1947 in Indochina and on March 31, 1947 everywhere else.

The medal is held by red and black cloth with the Cross of Lorraine and the date of the beginning of the German occupation of France in Roman figures: XVIII.VI.MCMXL (18 June 1940). On the reverse are the words "PATRIA NON IMMEMOR" ("the Fatherland does not forget"). The medal exists in two ranks : simple medal, and medal with rosette (the later awarded to 4,253 people). The medal was also awarded to 21 army units, 14 Navy units, 6 towns, schools and hospitals, and to 9 others (including convents).