Medal of a liberated France: Difference between revisions
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* [http://www.musee-legiondhonneur.fr/00_koama/visu_lh/index.asp?sid=320 Museum of the Legion of Honour] (in French) |
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131012055943/http://www.musee-legiondhonneur.fr/00_koama/visu_lh/index.asp?sid=320 Museum of the Legion of Honour] (in French) |
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{{French medals}} |
{{French medals}} |
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Revision as of 08:12, 7 June 2017
Medal of a liberated France | |
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![]() Medal of a liberated France (obverse) | |
Type | Decoration |
Eligibility | Military and civilian French and foreign nationals |
Status | Not awarded since 1957 |
Established | 12 September 1947 |
![]() 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 |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/M%C3%A9daille_de_la_France_lib%C3%A9r%C3%A9e_revers.jpg/125px-M%C3%A9daille_de_la_France_lib%C3%A9r%C3%A9e_revers.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/Kieffer_philippe.jpg/125px-Kieffer_philippe.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/Andregirardcarte.jpg/125px-Andregirardcarte.jpg)
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
External links
- Museum of the Legion of Honour (in French)