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]
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:
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-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)