The Medal of a liberated France 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". 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 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. 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. The board was composed of:
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.
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;
To soldiers of allied armies who served as liaison with the French forces between 18 June 1940 and 20 August 1945;
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.
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.
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" along the upper and lower circumference. 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.
Notable recipients (partial list)
Commander Philippe Kieffer-Country of Allegiance: France, Free France, Service: French Navy, Free French Naval Forces, Rank: Commander
Captain Émile Allegret- France, Free France, Service: French Airforce, Free French Airforce, Rank: Capitaine, Commands: Bombardment Group "Lorraine"Squadron 342
Resistance member Augustin Le Maresquier- Country of Allegiance: France, Free France, Service: French Resistance, French Forces of the Interior
Resistance member Antoinette Feuerwerker-Country of Allegiance: France, Free France, Service: French Resistance, French Forces of the Interior
Resistance member André Girard-Country of Allegiance: France, Free France, Service: French Resistance, French Forces of the Interior, Rank: Voluntary Combatant of the Resistance
Belgian general baron Georges Danloy-Country of Allegiance: Belgium Service: Belgian Army, Rank: Lieutenant General
Belgian general baron Michel Donnet-Country of Allegiance: Belgium, United Kingdom, Service: Belgian Army, Royal Air Force, Rank: Wing commander;UK Service, Lieutenant General;Post War Belgian Service
