- Time Period: Interwars Period
- Institution: November 16, 1940
- Country: France
The Order of Liberation (or “Ordre de la Libération” in French) is a high honor Order awarded to heroes of the Liberation of France during World War II. It is second only after the Légion d’Honneur (Legion of Honour). The Order of Liberation was established by General de Gaulle in order n° 7, signed in Brazzaville on November 16, 1940 to “reward people, of the military or civilian communities, who will have distinguished themselves in the task of liberating France and her Empire”.
Very few people, military units and communes were ever awarded it, and only for their deeds during World War II. There were no restrictions as to age, sex, rank, origin or nationality; nor about the nature of the deeds, other than their exceptional quality.
The Order has a single rank, the title of Compagnon de la Libération (“Companion of the Liberation”). General de Gaulle, founder of the Order, was the only Grand Maître (“Grand Master”) of the Order.
The Order of Liberation Design
The medal of the Order or Croix de la Libération (“Cross of Liberation”), measures 31 mm wide by 33 mm high and is made of a rectangular bronze shield bearing a 60 mm high vertical gladius on its obverse.
On the blade of the gladius: a black enamelled Cross of Lorraine. On the reverse, a relief inscription in bold letters and in Latin reads, on four rows, “PATRIAM SERVANDO VICTORIAM TULIT” (“By serving the Fatherland, he/she achieved Victory”).
A total of 1061 Crosses of Liberation were awarded: 1038 to individuals, 18 to units of the Army, Air Force and Navy and five to cities: Nantes, Grenoble, Paris, Vassieux-en-Vercors, and l’Île de Sein.
