Awards of
World War IIThe Medal of Liberated France (French: "Médaille de la France libérée") is an award of the French Republic, created on September 12, 1947, and originally called the "Medal of Gratitude to Liberated France" (French: "Médaille de la Reconnaissance de la France Libérée").
The medal was created as a commemorative award for both French and foreign citizens who made a significant contribution to the liberation of France from the Nazi invaders.
According to a December 7, 1947, the medal is awarded by the Minister of Veterans and Victims of War, in consultation with a council consisting of 21 members.
The council consists of included:
- the Chairman of the National Assembly;
- the Deputy Chairman of the State Council;
- a representative of the National Council of the Resistance;
- a representative of the Ministry of Justice;
- the Grand Chancellor of the Legion of Honor;
- the Chancellor of the Order of Liberation;
- a representative of the Keeper of the Seal of France;
- a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
- an official appointed by the Minister of Defense;
- four representatives from veterans' and victims' organizations appointed by the Minister. This number was increased to five by the Decree of January 19, 1950, and to six by the Decree of April 20, 1951.
On June 16, 1948, the award regulations were amended, it received its final name "Medal of Liberated France", and the award council was supplemented with a mandatory representative from the Ministry of the Interior.
The criteria for awarding the Medal of Liberated France were as follows:
- Military personnel who participated in combat operations on French territory between September 3, 1939 and August 20, 1945;
- Soldiers of the Allied armies who conducted joint operations with French troops during the period from 18 June 1940 to August 20, 1945;
- French citizens who made a significant contribution to the liberation of France, in the period from June 18, 1940 to August 20, 1945.
Persons awarded the following awards for their actions in the liberation of France could not be nominated for the Medal of Liberated France:
Legion of Honor for exploits in the resistance;
Cross of the Order of Liberation;
Medal for military exploits in the resistance;
Resistance Medal;
Medal of French gratitude for exploits in the resistance.
The medal is round, 35 mm in diameter, made of bronze. On the obverse in the center is a relief image of France, on it the date "1944". Around the image of France is a chain broken in two parts. Within the breaks in the chain are symbolic images of explosions, to the northeast and southwest, symbolizing the Allied landings.
On the reverse of the award are the letters "R.F." divided in half by a fasces, over which is placed a Phrygian cap. Around the circle is the inscription "LA FRANCE A SES LIBERATEURS" (France to its liberators).
The medal is suspended by a ring from a 36 mm wide silk moiré ribbon. The ribbon's colors represent a rainbow, from red at the edges to violet in the center.