- Time Period: World War II
- Institution: 5 September 1949
- Country: France
The Medal of the National Gendarmerie or Federal Police (or Médaille de la Gendarmerie nationale) is a French military decoration created on 5 September 1949 on the proposition of the then Minister of Defence, mister Paul Ramadier.
It was originally created in a single grade for award to officers and NCOs of the Gendarmerie nationale who were cited in the orders of the entire service. Such a citation in the orders of the entire service, and all potential subsequent ones would be denoted by a grenade device on the ribbon as the medal could, and can still only be awarded once to any potential recipient.
The medal could also be exceptionally awarded to persons not members of the service for important services rendered to the gendarmerie or for help during special missions. These presentations were made without a citation and thus without any ribbon device.
The ribbon of the medal will be adorned by a device denoting the degree of the award as described in its accompanying citation:
- Bronze palm when cited to the entire service;
- Gilt star when cited to its relevant army corps;
- Silver star when cited to its relevant division;
- Bronze star when cited to its relevant brigade or division.
The medal may be awarded posthumously.
The Medal of the Gendarmerie Nationale Design
The Médaille de la Gendarmerie nationale is a 36 mm in diameter circular gilt bronze medal. At its top, also in gilt bronze and hiding the ribbon suspension loop, is affixed a grenade with flames between laurel leaves.
The obverse bears the relief image of a plumed close helmet resting on a sword pointing upward, it bears the circular inscription along its circumference “GENDARMERIE NATIONALE”. The reverse bears a laurel wreath with the relief inscription “COURAGE DISCIPLINE” on two lines at the top, the center being reserved for the inscription of the recipient’s name.
The Médaille de la Gendarmerie nationale is suspended by a 37 mm wide silk moiré ribbon divided by vertical stripes in the following colors:
- 10 mm wide yellow central stripe representing the color of the old “Maréchaussée”, the military service charged with police and jurisdictional duties under the old regime;
- 2 mm wide white stripes bordering the central stripe, they represent the two subdivisions of the service, the police service and the Republican Guard;
- these central stripes are themselves bordered by 9,5 mm wide blue vertical stripes representing the color of the police service;
- 2 mm wide bright red edge stripes represent the Republican Guard.
