General de Gaulle, as head of the Free French Forces, authorised this bronze medal on 9 February 1943 to acknowledge the courage of the members of the French Resistance.

Under the Lorraine cross on the obverse, the starting date of the German occupation of France , 17 June 1940, can be observed in Roman figures.   The reverse inscription reads "PATRIA / NON / IMMEMOR" (The fatherland is not forgetting). In special cases a rosette on the ribbon was authorised.

The Cross of the Combatant Volunteer of the Resistance

This bronze gilt cross was instituted on 15 April 1954 and shows the cross of Lorraine on the obverse and "COMBATTANT VOLONTAIRE RESISTANCE" in the reverse medallion. As its title indicates, it was awarded to those Resistance members who voluntarily took up arms against the occupying German forces.

The Medal for Voluntary Service in the Free French Forces

Those who had volunteered for service in the FFF before 1 August 1943 were eligible for award of this silvered Lorraine Cross. It was instituted on 4 April 1946.

The War Commemorative Medal 1939-1945

Adopted on 21 May 1946, this somewhat pear-shaped medal was awarded to all military personnel for service in a recognized unit.

The pale blue ribbon with red and green side stripes has a row of red V's (Victoire, Victory) running down the centre. A number of bars were created for this medal : "FRANCE", "NORVEGE", "ITALIE" (see also Medal for Italy 1943-44), "LIBERATION", "ALLEMAGNE", "GRANDE BRETAGNE", "U.R.S.S." for European land or air campaigns, "AFRIQUE" and "EXTREME ORIENT" for non-European theatres of war, "ATLANTIQUE", "MEDITERANNEE", "MANCHE" and "MER DU NORD" to commemorate maritime operations and also "DEFENSE PASSIVE" and "ENGAGE VOLONTAIRE". From 8 November 1952 on, a bar with a red enamelled star could be worn if the recipient had received a war wound (also see below).

Seven dated bars were created for service within the year mentioned and not being recognized by any other existing bar.

The Commemorative Medal for the Italian Campaign 1943-1944

Upon the creation of this silvered bronze medal on 1 April 1953, the bar "ITALIE" for the War Commemorative medal fell into disuse.   The medal was awarded, as was the bar previously, to all members of the French Expeditionary Corps (FEC) serving in Italy and on Elba between 1 December 1943 and 25 July 1944. The FEC is perhaps best known for its participation in the Battle of Monte Cassino. The ribbon with its red and white stripes is reminiscent of the 1859 Medal for Italy's ribbon.

The French Gratitude Medal

This medal for outstanding service in helping war casualties was originally authorised in 1917 but was, on 22 November 1946, extended to cover acts of resistance as well. Earlier in the same year, both obverse and reverse were newly designed and some 13,000 awards are believed to be related to WW2 activities. As in WW1, three classes were created : gold (with a ribbon rosette), silver and bronze.

The Cross of the Combatant Volunteer of the War 1939-1945

This cross with the self-explanatory title is identical to the one award for WW1 but for the dates "1939-1945" in the reverse medallion. The ribbon is an inverted pattern of the WW1 version. It was authorised on 4 February 1953.

The Defaulters Medal

 

Instituted on 21 October 1963, this medal was awarded to those that voluntary refused to go and do forced labour in Germany which either the Vichy government or the German occupants had organised. The obverse shows the legend "J'ai livré un bon combat" (I fought a good fight) and on the reverse is "Aux Réfractaires Guerre 1939-1945" (To the work refusers 1939-1945).

The Bar for the Wounded

On 8 November 1952 this bar was authorised to be worn on the relative campaign or war medal by those wounded in action. (Picture courtesy of Col. William Woodier, USAF).

The Gratitude of the Nation Medal

On 12 April 2002, the French government created a new medal for award to the nation's veterans with a possible 5 bars which indicate the theatre of operations and period in which those veterans saw active service. The bars are "1914-1918", "1939-1945", "INDOCHINE", "AFRIQUE DU NORD" and "OPERATIONS EXTERIEURES". The ribbon used is the one for the Medal of North Africa, now rendered obsolete with the creation of this new medal.