- Time Period: Second World War
- Institution: 16 February 1945
- Country: Belgium
The Commemorative Medal of the 1940–45 War (Médaille Commémorative de la Guerre 1940–45 / De Herinneringsmedaille van de Oorlog 1940–1945) is a military decoration of Belgium established on 16 February 1945 by royal decree of the Prince Regent to recognize Belgian servicemen and women who served during the Second World War.
The medal was also awarded to members of the Belgian Resistance and members of Belgium’s Merchant Navy on the side of the Allies. Later decrees allowed for its award to foreign recipients of the Belgian Croix de Guerre.
The Commemorative Medal of the War 1940-1945 Design
The medal measures 38mm in diameter and is circular and struck in bronze.
The obverse bears a large V for Victory sign with a relief roaring lion in the V, at the lower left was the relief year “1940”, at the lower right the relief year “1945”. A 3mm wide laurel wreath encircled the entire medal on both the obverse and reverse. On the reverse, within a 5mm wide raised circle, the relief inscriptions “MEDAILLE COMMEMORATIVE” within the upper half and “HERINNERINGSMEDAILLE” in the lower half. In the center of the circle, two 3mm high raised horizontal bars positioned 8mm apart bear the relief inscriptions “DE LA GUERRE” / “VAN DER OORLOG“, at the center, between the two horizontal bars, the relief years “1940–1945”.
The ribbon is 37mm wide yellow silk moiré with 8mm wide edge stripes composed of 2mm wide stripes of yellow, black, white and black, the yellow being closest to the edges. The medal is suspended by a ring through a lateral suspension loop.
