Ordre de la Liberation
The Ordre de la Liberation was founded by the leader of Free France and later French President General Charles de Gaulle by Decree No. 7 on November 16, 1940 in Brazzaville . It was intended to honor people, military units, communities and institutions who had made exceptional contributions to the liberation of France and its colonies during the Second World War .
The persons, military units, communities and institutions entrusted with the medal may call themselves Compagnon de la Liberation .
history
A council, the Conseil de l'Ordre de la Liberation, consisting of five members, discussed the admission of new members and was responsible for the affairs of the order. Georges Thierry d'Argenlieu was first chancellor from 1941 to 1958. He was followed by:
- Joseph Ingold (1958 to 1962)
- Claude Hettier de Boislambert (1962 to 1978)
- Jean Simon (1978 to 2002)
- Alain de Boissieu (2002 to 2006)
- Pierre Messmer (2006 to 2007)
- François Jacob (2007 to 2011)
- Fred Moore (2011 to 2012)
The award of the medal was stopped by decree on January 23, 1946. De Gaulle in his function as Grand Master of the Order made two exceptions and awarded Winston Churchill on June 18, 1958 and King George VI on April 2, 1960 . the Ordre de la Liberation. A total of 1,059 awards were made, five of them to French municipalities ( Grenoble , Nantes , Paris , Vassieux-en-Vercors , Île de Sein ) and 18 to military units. 271 awards were made posthumously.
After de Gaulle's death, it was agreed not to appoint a new grandmaster.
Order classes
The order consists of only one class.
Order decoration
The medal is made of bronze and shows a small square plate on which a sword rests vertically . The sword handle and point protrude from the plate. A black Lorraine cross rests on the scabbard of the sword . Instead of the Lorraine cross, the four-line inscription PATRIAM SERVANDO VICTORIAM TULIT (By serving the fatherland he helped him to win) can be read on the back .
Carrying method
The Ordre de la Liberation is worn on a light green ribbon with two narrow black central stripes and a wide border on the left side of the chest. The colors symbolize the hope and sorrow of the country.
Specialty
Charles de Gaulle was awarded a Collane on August 31, 1947 for his unique service to France . This necklace consists alternately of green enameled Lorraine crosses and pairs of engraved chain links. The names of the French colonies are recorded on it: Afrique équatoriale française , Nouvelles Hébrides , Cameroun , Nouvelle-Calédonie , Océanie , Guyane , Indes , Levant , Somalis , La Réunion , Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon , Madagascar , Afrique occidentale française , Indochine , Afrique du Nord , Antilles .
On the collar hangs a high oval medallion showing the medal, which is surrounded by radiant flames. Above the medallion two swords crossed downwards and a semicircular chain link with the motto PATRIAM SERVANDO VICTORIAM TULIT as an inscription.
literature
- André Damien: Les Ordres de Chevalerie et les Décorations , Éditions Mémoire et Documents, ISBN 2-914611-05-6
