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.
| Medal of a liberated France | |
|---|---|
 Medal of a liberated France (obverse) | |
| Type | Decoration |
| Awarded for | Participation in the liberation of France in the Second World War |
| Presented by | France |
| Eligibility | Military and civilian French and foreign nationals |
| Status | Not awarded since 1957 |
| Established | 12 September 1947 |
| Last awarded | 7 July 1957 |
| Total | 13,469[1] |
 Ribbon of the Medal of a liberated France | |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Médaille commémorative de la guerre 1939–1945 |
| Next (lower) | Insigne du réfractaire au STO |
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
editThe 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
editThe 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)
edit- Commander Philippe Kieffer-Country of Allegiance: France(République française), Free France(La France Libre), Service: French Navy (Marine Nationale), Free French Naval Forces(Forces Navales Françaises),[3] Rank: Commander(Capitaine de frégate)
- Captain Émile Allegret- France(République française), Free France(La France Libre), Service: French Airforce(Armée de l'Air), Free French Airforce(Forces Aériennes Françaises Libres), Rank: Capitaine(Captain), Commands: Bombardment Group "Lorraine"Squadron 342(Les Equipages Du Groupe "Lorraine” Squadron 342)
- Resistance member Augustin Le Maresquier- Country of Allegiance: France(République française), Free France(La France Libre), Service: French Resistance(La Résistance), French Forces of the Interior(Forces françaises de l'intérieur)[4]
- Resistance member Antoinette Feuerwerker-Country of Allegiance: France(République française), Free France(La France Libre), Service: French Resistance(La Résistance), French Forces of the Interior(Forces françaises de l'intérieur)
- Resistance member André Girard-Country of Allegiance: France(République française), Free France(La France Libre), Service: French Resistance(La Résistance), French Forces of the Interior(Forces françaises de l'intérieur), Rank: Voluntary Combatant of the Resistance (Combattante Volontaire de la Résistance)
- Free French soldier Louis Saget-Country of Allegiance: France(République française), Free France(La France Libre), Service: Free French Forces(Forces françaises libres)
- Belgian general baron Georges Danloy-Country of Allegiance: Belgium(Royaume de Belgique) Service: Belgian Army(Composante terre), Rank: Lieutenant General(Generalleutnant)
- Belgian general baron Michel Donnet-Country of Allegiance: Belgium(Royaume de Belgique), United Kingdom, Service: Belgian Army(Composante terre), Royal Air Force, Rank: Wing commander(Lieutenant colonel)[5];UK Service, Lieutenant General(Generalleutnant);Post War Belgian Service
- United States Army major Richard Winters-- Country of Allegiance: United States of America, Service: United States Army, Rank: Major, Commands: 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division
- United States Army first lieutenant Audie Murphy-Country of Allegiance: United States of America, Service: United States Army, Rank: First Lieutenant
- French-American academic Bernard B. Fall-Country of Allegiance: France(République française), Free France(La France Libre), Service: French Resistance(La Résistance), French Army(Armée de Terre)
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "France Phaléristique web site" (in French). Marc Champenois. 2004-01-01. Retrieved 2013-12-01.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Battini, Jean; Zaniewicki, Witold (2003). Guide pratique des décorations françaises actuelles. Paris: LAVAUZELLE. p. 385. ISBN 2-7025-1030-2.
- ^ Spencer C. Tucker; Tucker, Spencer C. (2011). World War II at Sea: An Encyclopedi. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-59884-458-0.
- ^ "Rapport d'Augustin Le Maresquier sur ses activités de résistance". FranceArchives (in French). Retrieved 2020-04-29.
- ^ "Royal Air Force". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
External links
edit- Museum of the Legion of Honour (in French)