Medal of a liberated France
| Medal of a liberated France | |
|---|---|
|
Medal of a liberated France (obverse) | |
| Awarded by 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 |
| Statistics | |
| Established | 12 September 1947 |
| Last awarded | 7 July 1957 |
| Total awarded | 13,469[1] |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Médaille commémorative de la guerre 1939–1945 |
| Next (lower) | Insigne du réfractaire au STO |
 Ribbon of the Medal of a liberated France | |
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").[2] 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.[1]
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.[2]
The board was composed of:
- Grand chancellor of the Legion of Honour;[1]
- Chancellor of the Order of Liberation;[1]
- Representative of the Keeper of the Seals of France;[1]
- Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;[1]
- Representative of the Ministry of the Interior;[1]
- General officer designated by the Minister of Defence;[1]
- Four representatives from veterans' and war victims' organizations designated by the minister. This number was brought up to five by a decree of 19 January 1950 and to six by a decree of 20 April 1951.[1]
Award statute
The Medal of a liberated France could be awarded:
- To soldiers of the allied armies who participated in war operations on the soil of Metropolitan France or soil under French mandate between 3 September 1939 and 20 August 1945;[2]
- To soldiers of allied armies who served as liaison with the French forces between 18 June 1940 and 20 August 1945;[2]
- To French nationals who made a notable contribution to the liberation of Metropolitan France or soil under French mandate between 18 June 1940 and 20 August 1945.[2]
Recipients of the following French awards received in conjunction with the liberation of France could not receive the Medal of a liberated France:
- Legion of Honour for feats with the resistance;[2]
- Cross of the Order of Liberation;[2]
- Military Medal for feats with the resistance;[2]
- Resistance Medal;[2]
- Medal of French Gratitude for feats with the resistance.[2]
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.[1]
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.[1]
Notable recipients (partial list)
- Commander Philippe Kieffer
- Captain Émile Allegret
- Resistance member Augustin Le Maresquier
- Resistance member Antoinette Feuerwerker
- Resistance member André Girard
- Free French soldier Louis Saget
- Belgian general baron Georges Danloy
- Belgian general baron Michel Donnet
- United States Army major Richard Winters
- United States Army first lieutenant Audie Murphy
See also
- Ribbons of the French military and civil awards
- Awards and decorations of the United States military
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 "France Phaléristique web site" (in French). Marc Champenois. 2004-01-01. Retrieved 2013-12-01.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 Battini, Jean; Zaniewicki, Witold (2003). Guide pratique des décorations françaises actuelles. Paris: LAVAUZELLE. p. 385. ISBN 2-7025-1030-2.
External links
- Museum of the Legion of Honour (in French)
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