Medal of a liberated France

Medal of a liberated France (reverse)

French Navy, Commander Philippe Kieffer, a recipient of the Medal of a liberated France

French Resistance member André Girard, a recipient of the Medal of a liberated France

The Medal of a liberated France (Template:Langx) 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" (Template:Langx).<ref name="bookref1">Template:Cite book</ref> 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 (Template:Langx) 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.<ref name="FP">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref name="bookref1"/>

The board was composed of:

• Grand chancellor of the Legion of Honour;<ref name="FP"/>
• Chancellor of the Order of Liberation;<ref name="FP"/>
• Representative of the Keeper of the Seals of France;<ref name="FP"/>
• Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;<ref name="FP"/>
• Representative of the Ministry of the Interior;<ref name="FP"/>
• General officer designated by the Minister of Defence;<ref name="FP"/>
• 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.<ref name="FP"/>

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;<ref name="bookref1"/>
• To soldiers of allied armies who served as liaison with the French forces between 18 June 1940 and 20 August 1945;<ref name="bookref1"/>
• 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.<ref name="bookref1"/>

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;<ref name="bookref1"/>
• Cross of the Order of Liberation;<ref name="bookref1"/>
• Military Medal for feats with the resistance;<ref name="bookref1"/>
• Resistance Medal;<ref name="bookref1"/>
• Medal of French Gratitude for feats with the resistance.<ref name="bookref1"/>

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" (Template:Langx) along the upper and lower circumference.<ref name="FP"/>

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.<ref name="FP"/>

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),<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> 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)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• 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)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>;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

• Ribbons of the French military and civil awards
• Awards and decorations of the United States military

References

Template:Reflist

External links

• Museum of the Legion of Honour (in French)