- Time Period: World War II
- Institution: 12 September 1947
- Country: France
The Medal of a liberated France (or “Médaille de la France libérée”) was a decoration of the French Republic awarded to French and foreign nationals that had made a notable contribution to the liberation of France from the German occupation. It was originally named the “Medal of Gratitude of a Liberated France”.
The Medal of a liberated France was created by decree on 12 September 1947. It could be awarded to soldiers of the allied armies who had participated in war operations on the soil of Metropolitan France, soldiers of allied armies who served as liaison with the French forces or 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.
The Medal of a liberated France Design
The Medal of a liberated France measures 35mm in diameter and it’s a circular medal struck from bronze.
The obverse bears 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 bears 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 hangs from a 36mm wide rainbow coloured silk moiré ribbon with the purple at center.
