Medal of Recognition 1940–1945

The Medal of Recognition 1940–1945 (Dutch: Erkentelijkheidsmedaille 1940–1945) was a medal of the Kingdom of the Netherlands that was established by Royal Decree on 9 February 1946. The decoration was of two classes, silver and bronze, and was awarded to those who aided the Dutch during the period of World War II, or afterwards helped relieve those who had suffered from the German occupation.

Medal of Recognition
The bronze Medal of Recognition 1940–1945
Type	Civil decoration, with degrees silver and bronze
Presented by	Kingdom of the Netherlands
Status	Still living recipients, but not awarded anymore
Established	9 February 1946
Ribbon bar of the silver Medal of Recognition
Precedence
Next (higher)	Medal of the Red Cross
Next (lower)	Decoration of Merit

Design

The decoration was designed as a circular medal 29 millimetres in diameter and exists in two classes, silver and bronze. On the front Androcles is portrayed taking the thorn from the lion's paw. The choice of motif was guided by the fact that the lion is the royal emblem of the Netherlands and the story was once commonly cited as an example of enduring gratitude. The inscription round the front edge reads SIBI BENEFACIT QUI BENEFACIT AMICO (Latin for 'He benefits himself who benefits a friend'). On the reverse of the medal the inscription reads POPULUS BATAVUS GRATO ANIMO (Latin for 'With the gratitude of the Dutch people'). The medal's ribbon is orange with a broad white stripe down the middle, on which there is a small silver or bronze crown according to class.