Médaille de la Résistance
Encyclopedia
The French Médaille de la Résistance (Medal of the Resistance) was awarded by General Charles de Gaulle
"to recognise the remarkable acts of faith and of courage that, in France
, in the empire and abroad, have contributed to the resistance of the French people against the enemy and against its accomplices since June 18, 1940".
The Médaille de la Résistance was given to approximately 44,000 living persons and 20,000 posthumously, awarded both for membership of the Free French forces and for participation in the metropolitan clandestine Resistance
during the German occupation of France in World War II
. Higher deeds were rewarded with the Ordre de la Libération
. The medal ceased to be awarded on 31 December 1947 in Indochina
and globally on 31 March 1947.
The medal is held by red and black cloth with the Cross of Lorraine
and the date of the beginning of the German occupation of France in Roman figures: XVIII.VI.MCMXL (18 June 1940). On the reverse are the words "PATRIA NON IMMEMOR" ("the Fatherland does not forget"). The medal exists in two ranks: simple medal, and medal with officier's rosette
which was awarded to 4,253 people. The medal was also awarded to 21 army units, 14 Navy units, 6 towns, schools and hospitals, and to 9 others including convents.
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
"to recognise the remarkable acts of faith and of courage that, in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, in the empire and abroad, have contributed to the resistance of the French people against the enemy and against its accomplices since June 18, 1940".
The Médaille de la Résistance was given to approximately 44,000 living persons and 20,000 posthumously, awarded both for membership of the Free French forces and for participation in the metropolitan clandestine Resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
during the German occupation of France in World War II
German occupation of France in World War II
The Military Administration in France was an interim occupation authority established by Nazi Germany during World War II. It remained in existence from May 1940 to December 1944. As a result of the defeat of France and its Allies in the Battle of France, the French cabinet sought a cessation...
. Higher deeds were rewarded with the Ordre de la Libération
Ordre de la Libération
The Ordre de la Libération is a French Order awarded to heroes of the Liberation of France during World War II. It is an exceptional honor, the second highest after the Légion d’Honneur and only a small number of people and military units have received it, exclusively for deeds accomplished...
. The medal ceased to be awarded on 31 December 1947 in Indochina
Indochina
The Indochinese peninsula, is a region in Southeast Asia. It lies roughly southwest of China, and east of India. The name has its origins in the French, Indochine, as a combination of the names of "China" and "India", and was adopted when French colonizers in Vietnam began expanding their territory...
and globally on 31 March 1947.
The medal is held by red and black cloth with the Cross of Lorraine
Cross of Lorraine
The Cross of Lorraine is originally a heraldic cross. The two-barred cross consists of a vertical line crossed by two smaller horizontal bars. In the ancient version, both bars were of the same length. In 20th century use it is "graded" with the upper bar being the shortest...
and the date of the beginning of the German occupation of France in Roman figures: XVIII.VI.MCMXL (18 June 1940). On the reverse are the words "PATRIA NON IMMEMOR" ("the Fatherland does not forget"). The medal exists in two ranks: simple medal, and medal with officier's rosette
Rosette (decoration)
A rosette is a small, circular device that is presented with a medal. The rosettes are primarily for situations where wearing the medal is deemed inappropriate. Rosettes are issued in nations such as France, Italy and Japan...
which was awarded to 4,253 people. The medal was also awarded to 21 army units, 14 Navy units, 6 towns, schools and hospitals, and to 9 others including convents.