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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox military award
|name=Médaille militaire
|image=Medaille Militaire dite de la 4e Republique, variante de fabrication privée (France).jpg
|image_size=150px
|caption=Badge of the ''Médaille militaire'' (obverse)
|presenter=[[File:Flag of France.svg|18px]] France
|type= Military decoration
|eligibility= Privates, NCOs, Commanders-in-chief generals and admirals
|awarded_for= Valour in combat or long service
|status= Currently awarded
|description=
|clasps=
|established=22 January 1852
|firstawarded=
|lastawarded=
|total_awarded=
|total_awarded_posthumously=
|total_recipients=
|individual=
|higher=[[Order of Liberation]]
|lower=[[National Order of Merit (France)|National Order of Merit]]
|image2=[[File:Medaille militaire ribbon.svg|100 px]]
|caption2=Ribbon of the Military Medal
}}

The '''''Médaille militaire''''' ({{IPA|fr|medaj militɛʁ}}, "Military Medal") is a military decoration of the [[French Republic]] for [[Enlisted rank|other ranks]] for meritorious service and acts of bravery in action against an enemy force. It is the third highest award of the French Republic, after the [[Legion of Honour]], a civil and military order, and the [[Order of Liberation]], a Second World War-only order. The ''Médaille militaire'' is therefore the most senior entirely military active French decoration.

During [[World War I]], 230,000 ''médailles'' were awarded,<ref>[http://snemm.fr/la-snemm/historique/ historique de la société d'entraide des médaillés militaires] {{in lang|fr}}</ref> when 1,400,000 French Army soldiers were killed and 3,000,000 wounded. For comparison, the UK [[Military Medal]] was awarded on 115,000 occasions in World War I, when 673,375 British Army soldiers were killed and 1,643,469 wounded. There were 628 awards to 627 recipients of the [[List of First World War Victoria Cross recipients|Victoria Cross]], the United Kingdom's highest military decoration. 

The award was first established in 1852 by the first [[President of the French Republic]], [[Napoleon III|Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte]] who may have taken his inspiration from a medal established and awarded by his father, [[Louis Bonaparte]], King of [[Kingdom of Holland|Holland]].

After the [[World War I|First World War]], the Military Medal was also temporarily awarded for wounds received in combat.<ref name="bookref">{{cite book | last1 = Battini | first1 = Jean | first2 = Witold | last2 = Zaniewicki | title = Guide pratique des décorations françaises actuelles |language = fr | location = Paris | publisher = Lavauzelle | year= 2003 | pages = 51–58 | isbn = 2-7025-1030-2 }}</ref>

==Statute==
Like many other French awards, the ''médaille'' can be awarded for different reasons. It can be awarded to foreign nationals serving with or alongside the French armed forces.<ref name="bookref" />

* To members of the military other than commissioned officers (including [[enlisted rank]]s, [[non-commissioned officer]]s and ''[[aspirant]]s'' or [[Officer Designate]]).<ref name="bookref" />
** As an award for valour, it is the second highest award ranking immediately after the [[Legion of Honour]].
** As an ''in between'' medal for enlisted members, NCO and O(D) awarded the Legion of Honour for "combat actions", nowadays mostly done posthumously.
** As a service medal, for long-serving NCOs.
* To [[general]]s and [[admiral]]s who have been commanders-in-chief, as a supreme award for leadership. These general officers must already have been awarded the grand cross of the [[Legion of Honour]].<ref name="bookref"/>

==Award description==
The Médaille militaire is a silver laurel wreath, {{convert|28|mm|abbr=on}} in diameter, wrapped around a central gold medallion bearing the left profile of [[Marianne]], effigy of the [[French Republic]], the original [[Second French Empire|2nd Empire]] variant bore the left profile of Emperor Napoleon III. The central gold medallion is surrounded by a blue enamelled ring bearing the gilt inscription "RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE" ({{langx|en|"FRENCH REPUBLIC"}}) with a small gilt five-pointed star at the bottom for a 4th Republic award, three stars for a 5th Republic variant, the 3rd Republic variant bore the date 1870, the 2nd Empire variant bore the gilt inscription "LOUIS-NAPOLEON" in lieu of "RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE" and had flowers on both sides of the small star at the bottom. The original variant was topped by a silver imperial eagle with a loop through which the suspension ring passed, all other variants were and are topped by a device composed of a [[breastplate]] superimposed over crossed cannons, a naval anchor, sabres, swords and battle axes, to which the suspension ring passes through a loop for attachment to a ribbon. The reverse of the medallion is common to all variants since inception of the award, it bears the relief inscription on three lines "VALEUR ET DISCIPLINE" ({{langx|en|"VALOUR AND DISCIPLINE"}}) and is surrounded by a blue enamelled ring.<ref name="bookref"/>

The ribbon of the Médaille militaire is {{convert|37|mm|abbr=on}} wide, yellow in color with {{convert|6|mm|in|abbr=on|adj=mid|-wide}} green stripes on each edge. This ribbon was borrowed from the [[Order of the Iron Crown]] which it effectively replaced in France.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto;text-align:center;"
! 2nd Empire<br />1852–1870
! 3rd Republic<br />1870–1940
! 4th Republic<br />1946–1958
! 5th Republic<br />1958–present
! Reverse common<br />to all variants
|-
| [[File:Medaille Militaire 2e Empire France.jpg|150px]]
| [[File:Medaille Militaire 3e Republique France.jpg|145px]]
| [[File:Medaille Militaire dite de la 4e Republique, fabrication officielle Monnaie de Paris (France).jpg|150px]]
| [[File:Medaille Militaire dite de la 4e Republique, variante de fabrication privée (France).jpg|142px]]
| [[File:Medaille Militaire 3e Republique France REVERS.jpg|149px]]
|}
{{clear}}

==Recipients==
[[File:Bernard Law Montgomery.jpg|150px|thumb|right|Field Marshal [[Bernard Montgomery]], a recipient of the Médaille militaire]]
[[File:Eugene Jacques Bullard, first African American combat pilot in uniform, First World War.jpg|150px|thumb|right|WW1 African American fighter pilot [[Eugene Bullard]], a recipient of the Médaille militaire]]
[[File:Ferdinand Foch.jpg|150px|thumb|right|Marshal of France, Great Britain and Poland, [[Ferdinand Foch]], a recipient of the Médaille militaire]]

The Médaille militaire was awarded in some number to British and allied forces (allies of the French Empire) during the Crimean War of 1854–1856 and in reasonably large numbers to allied forces in the 1914–1918 war. During the [[Second World War]], the ''Médaille'' reached its highest numbers of foreign bestowals, most often to members of the [[British Army]] as well as to the [[United States military]]. The general's ''médaille'' was awarded to [[Winston Churchill]], [[Franklin Delano Roosevelt]] and [[Josip Broz Tito]], as supreme commanders of the UK, US and Yugoslav military forces, but to also effective military leaders, such as General of the Army [[Dwight Eisenhower]], and to Admiral of the Fleet [[Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope]].

==Unit award==
In addition to the individual medal, the Médaille militaire is also authorized as a unit award to those military commands who display the same criteria of bravery as would be required for the individual medal. The ''médaille'' is displayed on the flag of these units. It is one of the rarest unit awards in the French military.<ref name="bookref"/>

This unit award should not be confused with the ''[[fourragère]] de la médaille militaire'', which is a cord suspended from the shoulder of a military uniform worn by members of units which had been [[Mentioned in Despatches|mentioned in despatches]]. A ''fourragère aux couleurs du ruban de la médaille militaire'' (''fourragère'' in the colours of the ribbon of the ''médaille militaire'') is worn by units which had been mentioned four times, a ''fourragère aux couleurs de la [[légion d'honneur]] et de la médaille militaire'' (''fourragère'' in the colours of the ribbons of the ''légion d'honneur'' and the ''médaille militaire'') for units mentioned twelve times. Ten American units (most of them came from the U.S. 1st Infantry Division) can wear the ''fourragère de la médaille militaire''.

==Notable French and foreign recipients (partial list)==
The individuals listed below were recipients of the "Médaille Militaire:
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Fernand Bonnier de La Chapelle]] (posthumous)
* [[John Alexander (VC)|Private John Alexander]] [[Victoria Cross|VC]] {{UK}}
* [[Berty Albrecht|Nurse and resistance fighter Berty Albrecht]] (posthumous)
* [[François Achille Bazaine|Marshal of France (1864) François Achille Bazaine]]
* [[Arthur Bluethenthal|World War 1 pilot Arthur Bluethenthal]]<ref name="jewsinsports1">{{cite web |url = http://www.jewsinsports.org/profile.asp?sport=football&ID=17 |title=Bluethenthal, Arthur "Bluey" |website=Jewsinsports.org |access-date=December 22, 2010}}</ref><ref name="google2">{{cite book |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=oZxnNt28DhcC&q=Arthur+Bluethenthal+football&pg=PA87 |author=Joseph Siegman |title=Jewish sports legends: the International Jewish Hall of Fame |publisher=Brassey's |isbn = 1-57488-284-8 |year=2000 |access-date=December 22, 2010 }}</ref> {{USA}} (posthumous)
* [[Eugene Jacques Bullard|World War 1 African American fighter pilot Eugene Jacques Bullard]] {{USA}}
* [[Louis-Ferdinand Céline|Sergeant Louis-Ferdinand Céline]]
* [[Eugène Chavant|Sergeant Eugène Chavant]]
* [[Yvonne Chollet]] (posthumous)
* [[Ferdinand Foch|Marshal of France, Great Britain and Poland, Ferdinand Foch]]
* [[Winston Churchill|Prime Minister Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill]] {{UK}}
* [[Daniel Daly|USMC Sergeant Major Daniel Joseph "Dan" Daly]] {{USA}}
* [[Herman Davis|Private Herman Davis]] {{USA}}
* [[Sam Dreben|First sergeant Samuel "Sam" Dreben]] {{USA}}
* [[Dwight D. Eisenhower|President Dwight D. Eisenhower]] {{USA}}
* [[Rene Joyeuse]] FFL / [[Office of Strategic Services|OSS]] (Captain) {{FR}}
* [[François Faber|Corporal François Faber]] (posthumous)
* [[René Fonck|Colonel René Paul Fonck]]
* [[Edward Foster (VC)|Corporal Edward Foster VC]] {{UK}}
* [[Victor Fyodorov|Russian flying ace Viktor Georgiyevich Fyodorov]] {{RUS}}
* [[Jean Gabin]]
* [[Louis Lépine|Police prefect Louis Lépine]]
* [[Douglas MacArthur|General of the Army Douglas MacArthur]] {{USA}}
* [[Georges Madon|Capitaine Georges Felix Madon]]
* [[Paul de Montgolfier|World War 2 fighter ace Paul-Joseph de Montgolfier]]
* [[Bernard Law Montgomery|Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein]] {{UK}}
* [[Olav V of Norway|Norwegian Crown Prince and Chief of Defence Olav V]] {{NOR}}
* [[Alexandros Papagos|Marshal and Prime Minister Alexandros Papagos]] {{flag|Greece|old}}
* [[Philippe Pétain|Marshal Henri Philippe Benoni Omer Joseph Pétain]]
* [[Thomas A. Pope|Corporal Thomas A. Pope]] {{NoteTag|Also awarded the U.S. Medal of Honor, the British Distinguished Conduct Medal, and the Croix de guerre for bravery displayed in Hamel, France.}} {{USA}}
* [[Pierre Roques|Father of the French Air Force, General Pierre Auguste Roques]]
* [[Franklin D. Roosevelt|President Franklin D. Roosevelt]] {{USA}} (posthumous)
* [[Pierre-Auguste Sarrus|Master corporal Pierre-Auguste Sarrus]]
* [[Pierre Schoendoerffer|Master corporal Pierre Schoendoerffer]]
* [[Josip Broz Tito|Partisan leader and Prime Minister Josip Broz Tito]] {{YUG}}
* [[Susan Travers]] - [[French Foreign Legion]]
* [[Marthe Cohn]]
* [[Clarence Van Allen|Corporal Clarence Van Allen]] {{USA}}
{{div col end}}

===Recent Recipients for Valour===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Name !! Unit !! Rank !! Date of effect !! Notes
|-
|Adrien Moulard||Army, Armored Cavalry||Master Corporal (''brigadier-chef'')||20 November 2013||WIA
|-
|Renan Thierry||Army, Armored Cavalry||Master Corporal (''brigadier-chef'')||20 November 2013||WIA
|-
|Thomas Guillebaut||Air Force||Master Corporal (''caporal chef'')||13 December 2013||KIA<br /><small>Also [[Legion of Honour|knight of the Legion of Honour]]</small>
|-
|John Conte||Army, Foreign Legion||Private First Class (''soldat de première classe'')||29 April 2014<ref name="legifrance.gouv.fr">''[https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do?cidTexte=JORFTEXT000032000412&fastPos=1&fastReqId=516173447&categorieLien=id&oldAction=rechTexte Décret du 8 février 2016 portant concession de la Médaille militaire]''</ref>||WIA
|-
|Geraldino Hoareaeu||Army, Foreign Legion||Private First Class (''soldat de première classe'')||29 April 2014<ref name="legifrance.gouv.fr"/>||WIA
|-
|Marcel Kalafut||Army, [[French Foreign Legion|Foreign Legion]]||Staff Sergeant (''sergent-chef'')||12 May 2014||KIA<br /><small>Also [[Legion of Honour|knight of the Legion of Honour]]</small>
|-
|Dejvid Nikolic||Army, Foreign Legion||Master Warrant Officer (''adjudant-chef'')||17 July 2014||WIA<br /><small>Nikolic later died from his wounds and was created [[Legion of Honour|knight of the Legion of Honour]]</small>
|-
|Antoine Le Quinio||Army, [[Troupes de Marine]]||Corporal (''caporal'')||19 July 2014||KIA<br /><small>Also [[Legion of Honour|knight of the Legion of Honour]]</small>
|-
|Nicolas Vokaer||Army, Troupes de Marine||Corporal (''caporal'')||19 July 2014||KIA<br /><small>Also [[Legion of Honour|knight of the Legion of Honour]]</small>
|-
|Teiva Li Hip||Army, Troupes de Marine||Corporal (''brigadier'')||28 July 2014||WIA
|-
|Alex Tite||Army, Troupes de Marine||Master Corporal 1st class (''caporal-chef de première classe'')||28 July 2014||WIA
|-
|Mickaël Galeran||Army, Artillery||Master Corporal (''brigadier-chef'')||2 October 2014||WIA
|-
|Thomas Dupuy||Air Force||Warrant Officer (''adjudant'')||3 November 2014||KIA<br /><small>Also [[Legion of Honour|knight of the Legion of Honour]]</small>
|-
|Samir Bajja||Armed Forces Fuel Service||Warrant Officer (''agent technique en chef'')||3 December  2014<ref>''[https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do?cidTexte=JORFTEXT000031175080&fastPos=1&fastReqId=1637118818&categorieLien=id&oldAction=rechTexte Décret du 14 septembre 2015 portant concession de la Médaille militaire]''</ref>||KIA<br /><small>Also [[Legion of Honour|knight of the Legion of Honour]]</small>
|-
|François Fernandez||Army, Signal Corps||Warrant Officer (''adjudant'')||5 December 2014<ref>''[https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do?cidTexte=JORFTEXT000031175083&fastPos=1&fastReqId=1988144526&categorieLien=id&oldAction=rechTexte Décret du 14 septembre 2015 portant concession de la Médaille militaire]''</ref>||WIA
|-
|Rémy Boullé||Air Force||Master Corporal (''caporal-chef'')||16 January 2015<ref>''[https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do?cidTexte=JORFTEXT000031175086&fastPos=1&fastReqId=1352685558&categorieLien=id&oldAction=rechTexte Décret du 14 septembre 2015 portant concession de la Médaille militaire]''</ref>||WIA
|-
|Ludovic Sailly||Air Force||Warrant Officer (''adjudant'')||30 January 2015<ref name="DEFM1519984D">''[https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do?cidTexte=JORFTEXT000031175092&fastPos=1&fastReqId=1112438204&categorieLien=id&oldAction=rechTexte Décret du 14 septembre 2015 portant concession de la Médaille militaire]''</ref>||WIA
|-
|Damien Legrand||Air Force||Staff Sergeant (''sergent-chef'')||30 January 2015<ref name="DEFM1519984D"/>||WIA
|-
|Mathieu Paulet||Air Force||Staff Sergeant (''sergent-chef'')||30 January 2015<ref name="DEFM1519984D"/>||WIA
|-
|Franck Poirot||Air Force||Master Corporal (''caporal-chef'')||30 January 2015<ref name="DEFM1519984D"/>||WIA
|-
|Yann Pollet||Army, Corps of Engineers||Staff Sergeant (''sergent-chef'')||13 March 2015<ref>''[https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do?cidTexte=JORFTEXT000031175095&fastPos=1&fastReqId=1987811804&categorieLien=id&oldAction=rechTexte Décret du 14 septembre 2015 portant concession de la Médaille militaire]''</ref>||WIA
|-
|Aurélie Salel||Army, Corps of Engineers||Sergeant (''sergent'')||18 March 2015<ref>''[https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do?cidTexte=JORFTEXT000031175098&fastPos=1&fastReqId=1556652658&categorieLien=id&oldAction=rechTexte Décret du 14 septembre 2015 portant concession de la Médaille militaire]''</ref>||WIA<br/><small>Later died from her wounds and made Knight of the Legion of Honour<ref>''[https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do?cidTexte=JORFTEXT000031174764&fastPos=1&fastReqId=646466302&categorieLien=id&oldAction=rechTexte Décret du 14 septembre 2015 portant nomination ]''</ref></small>
|-
|Florian Dumont||Army, Corps of Engineers||Master Corporal (''caporal-chef'')||4 May 2015<ref>''[https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do?cidTexte=JORFTEXT000031175104&fastPos=1&fastReqId=186417435&categorieLien=id&oldAction=rechTexte Décret du 14 septembre 2015 portant concession de la Médaille militaire]''</ref>||WIA<br/><small>Later died from his wounds and made Knight of the Legion of Honour<ref>''[https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do?cidTexte=JORFTEXT000031174767&fastPos=1&fastReqId=1788100737&categorieLien=id&oldAction=rechTexte Décret du 14 septembre 2015 portant nomination ]''</ref></small>
|-
|Nicolas Caron||Army||Staff Sergeant (''sergent-chef'')||16 October 2015<ref>[https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do?cidTexte=JORFTEXT000032000418&fastPos=1&fastReqId=439461361&categorieLien=id&oldAction=rechTexte Décret du 8 février 2016 portant concession de la Médaille militaire]</ref>||WIA
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|France}}
* [[Ribbons of the French military and civil awards]]

==Notes==
{{NoteFoot}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Médaille militaire}}
* [http://www.france-phaleristique.com/ France Phaléristique] {{in lang|fr}}
* [https://www.legiondhonneur.fr/fr/page/recherche-de-decore/102 Médaille Militaire information held by the Grande Chancellerie de la Légion d'honneur] {{in lang|fr}}

{{-}}
{{French medals}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Medaille Militaire}}
[[Category:Military awards and decorations of France]]
[[Category:Awards established in 1852]]
[[Category:1852 establishments in France]]
[[Category:Napoleon III]]