Resistance Medal

The Resistance Medal (French: Médaille de la Résistance) was a decoration bestowed by the French Committee of National Liberation, based in the United Kingdom, during World War II. It was established by a decree of General Charles de Gaulle on 9 February 1943 "to recognize 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 18 June 1940".[1]

Resistance Medal
The Resistance medal with rosette (obverse). The red stripes in this sample have faded to a lighter color due to the passage of time.
TypeDecoration
Awarded forRemarkable acts of courage that contributed to the resistance of the French people against the enemy
Presented by France
StatusNo longer awarded
Established9 February 1943
Last awarded31 March 1947
Total awarded posthumously24,463[1]
Total recipients62,000[1]


Ribbons of the Resistance medal with and without rosette
Precedence
Next (higher)Medal for the War Wounded[2]
Next (lower)Ordre des Palmes Académiques[2]

The Resistance medal was awarded to approximately 38,288 living persons and 24,463 posthumously. These awards were both for membership in 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. Proposals for the medal ceased to be accepted on 31 March 1947. For acts that occurred in Indochina, however, that date was moved back to 31 December 1947.[3]

The medal was also awarded to 18 communities and territories, 21 military units, and to 15 other organizations including convents, high schools, and hospitals that particularly distinguished themselves.[1]

Award statute
Reverse of the Resistance medal
Free French Officer and OSS Agent René Joyeuse, a recipient of the Resistance medal with rosette
Resistance member Léo Figuères, a recipient of the Resistance medal
Resistance member Denise Bloch, a posthumous recipient of the Resistance medal
Resistance leader Pierre Kaan, posthumous recipient of the Resistance medal
Free French soldier and politician Pierre Messmer, a recipient of the Resistance medal
Insignia of the 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion, a recipient unit of the Resistance medal
Coat of arms of the Brest commune, a recipient community of the Resistance medal

The Resistance medal is awarded by the Chief of a Fighting France to French individuals and communities:[3]

  • who took an especially active part since 18 June 1940 in the resistance against Axis forces and their accomplices on French soil or in a territory under French sovereignty;
  • who took an effective and important part in the rallying of French territories to Fighting France or rendered services in the war effort of those territories that were confirmed and logged;
  • who played an eminent role in the actions of organizations of Fighting France abroad or in propaganda destined at regrouping and supporting the forces of the resistance;
  • who rallied troops, ships or aircraft in exceptionally difficult or dangerous conditions;
  • who joined the Free French Forces in particularly dangerous and meritorious conditions.

The Resistance medal may be revoked by decree following any act contrary to honour or integrity, whether committed prior to or after bestowal of the medal.[3]

Award description

The Resistance medal is a 37mm in diameter circular medal struck from bronze. Its slightly concave obverse bears at center a vertical Cross of Lorraine with the relief semi circular inscription of the date of General de Gaulle's appeal of 18 June 1940 in Roman numerals "XVIII.VI.MCMXL" (18.06.1940) bisected by the lower part of the cross. The reverse bears the relief image of an unfurling ribbon bearing the relief inscription in Latin "PATRIA NON IMMEMOR" translating into "THE NATION DOES NOT FORGET". The suspension is cast as an integral part of the medal.[4]

The medal hangs from a 36mm wide black silk moiré ribbon with six vertical red stripes of varying widths, 3mm wide edge stripes, two 1mm wide central stripes 2mm apart, and two 1mm wide stripes 6mm from the central stripes. A 28mm in diameter rosette is on the ribbon of the Officer of the Resistance medal.[3]

Notable recipients (partial list)

Notable posthumous recipients (partial list)
  • Grenoble resistance member Jean Pain
  • Free French aviator lieutenant Gérard Claron
  • Free French aviator captain Louis Flury-Hérard
  • Resistance leader general Aubert Frère
  • Captain, doctor, mayor of Saint-Rambert-en-Bugey, Michel Temporal
  • Resistance member Pierre Guillou
  • Free French aviator Pierre Brisdoux Galloni d'Istria
  • Resistance leader Fernand Zalkinow
  • Resistance member colonel Émile Bonotaux
  • Resistance member brigadier general Georges Journois
  • Abbot René Bonpain
  • Resistance leader Pierre Brossolette
  • Resistance leader Pierre Kaan
  • Resistance member Léger Fouris
  • Resistance member Gabriel Plançon
  • Resistance member rabbi Samuel Klein
  • Resistance member Laurent Matheron
  • Resistance leader Marc Haguenau
  • Resistance member Georges Lamarque
  • Resistance leader rear admiral Jacques Trolley de Prévaux
  • Resistance member Jean Chaffanjon
  • Resistance member Pierre Chaffanjon
  • Resistance member Yvonne Chollet
  • Resistance member Robert Duterque
  • Resistance member Henri Fertet (1926-1943)
  • Resistance member, chemist France Bloch-Sérazin (1913 – 1943)
  • Resistance member Agnès de La Barre de Nanteuil (1922–1944)

Recipient communities and organizations (partial list)

See also

References
  1. "History: Médaille de la Résistance". Chancellerie de l'Ordre de la Libération. 28 October 2006. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
  2. "The national system". Grand Chancery of the Legion of Honor. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  3. "France Phaléristique web site" (in French). Marc Champenois. 2004-01-01. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  4. Battini, Jean; Zaniewicki, Witold (2003). Guide pratique des décorations françaises actuelles. Paris: LAVAUZELLE. ISBN 2-7025-1030-2.
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