The ribbon's colours are supposed to be symbolic : green for the hope of liberation, red for the blood shed by the victims, black for the clandestine character of the resistance.

This bronze medal was awarded to members of the civilian resistance, recognized as such by a law of 24 September 1946 and was instituted on 21 March 1951.

The obverse shows a standing man, breaking the chains around his wrists, with a woman behind him.