- Time Period: World War I
- Institution: 1922
- Country: France
The Allied Victory Medal was recommended by an inter-allied committee in March 1919. Fourteen victorious countries were finally awarded the medal after World War I, and each allied nation would design a ‘Victory Medal’ for award to their own nationals. Certain features were to be shared: a winged figure of Victory on the obverse and the same ribbon.
The French Victory Medal was established on 20 July 1922 and awarded to all soldiers who served three months between 2 August 1914 and 11 November 1918, as well as to civilian nurses, aliens who served directly under French command, Marshals and generals who had a command for at least three months, and prisoners of war from Alsace and Lorraine who then served in the French forces.
The France Inter-Allied Victory Medal Design
The Victory Medal measures 36 millimetres (1.4 in) in diameter and was designed by William McMillan. The design and ribbon was also adopted by Belgium, Brazil, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Romania, Siam, Union of South Africa and the USA. Each allied nation would design a ‘Victory Medal’ for award to their own nationals, all issues having certain common features, including a winged figure of victory on the obverse and the same ribbon.
The obverse of the medal bears the winged, full-length and full-front figure of Victoria and the designer’s signature “A. Morlon”. The reverse reads “LA GRANDE GVERRE POUR CIVILISATION 1914-1919” and a Phrygian cap between the letters R. F.
The 39 millimeters (1.5 in) wide watered ribbon has an iridescent color scheme, with the violet moving through to a central red stripe where both schemes meet. It attaches to the medal through a ring suspender. The recipient’s name, rank, service number and unit were impressed on the edge of the medal. The name of the regiment or corps was omitted on medals awarded to Army officers.
All the Inter-Allied Victory Medal Variations
Although each country designed its own version of the Inter-Allied Victory Medal, all of them shared some common elements, such as a winged victory figure on the obverse and a similar ribbon with rainbow colors symbolizing unity among the Allies. Here are the versions for all countries:
