- Time Period: Second World War
- Institution: 01 August 1945
- Country: Belgium
The Medal of Belgian Gratitude 1940-1945 (Médaille de la Reconnaissance Belge 1940–1945 / Erkentelijkheidsmedaille 1940–1945) is a Belgian medal instituted on 1 August 1945 by the Prince-Regent Karel, in three classes: gold, silver and bronze.
The medal was awarded to civilians, Belgian or foreign alike, who during the war had shown their patriotism in the humanitarian field by acts of courage. A good example of an award to non-Belgians is the gold medal to the Dutch village of Vught, given in recognition of the inhabitant’s attitude towards the Belgian prisoners held in the German concentration camp there.
The Medal of Belgian Gratitude 1940-1945 Design
The medal measures 34 mm in diameter and is octagonal and struck in silver.
The obverse depicts a veiled woman (representing Belgium) facing to the right, with a rapier in her right hand, raised in salute. The reverse bears the inscription “PATRIA GRATA 1940 1945” with a decorative pattern on either side of the inscription. Above the medal is a laurel wreath.
The ribbon has central stripes of black, yellow, and pink flanked by purple.
Red Cross members who qualified were awarded a medal with a red enamel cross in the open laurel wreath of the medal’s suspension.
