Francisque

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The order of the Gallic Francisque was an award of the État Français , which expressed a special appreciation of Marshal Philippe Pétain and his collaboration regime.

Coat of arms of the Vichy regime

It should be "the symbol of sacrifice and courage" and "remind of a wounded France that rises from its ashes".

It was created and confirmed by the decisions of the decree of May 26, 1941 to the law of October 16, 1941 and the decrees of March 14, 1942 and July 31, 1942. The Francisque became the “badge of the Maréchal , head of the French state " explained.

Conditions and oath

The candidate needed two sponsors, and had to "provide undisputed moral guarantees and meet two conditions: before the war the candidate should have supported a national and social policy in accordance with the principles of the national revolution, and during the war his active commitment to the work and have demonstrated the person of the Marshal through brilliant military or civilian achievements ”.

He had to confirm this by an oath : “I am giving myself to Marshal Pétain, just as he gave his France as a gift. I undertake to obey his commands and to serve his person and work faithfully. "

Awarding and revocation

The award was made directly by the Head of State on behalf of the “Council of Francisque”, which was composed of 12 members nominated by the Head of State and headed by the Grand Chancellor of the Legion of Honor. It could be revoked in the same way with a special authorization card.

medal

The medal was 26.5 mm high and 19.4 mm wide, and its shape was reminiscent of a double battle ax used by Franconian or French warriors (the Francisque was originally an iron throwing weapon; see coat of arms above). The Marshal's staff was enameled blue; 10 stars and its edges were gold-plated and its shaft was attached with two enameled pins in the colors of the tricolor .

Bearer of the order (selection)

In 1945 the Supreme Court drew up a list of 2,626 bearers of the Order, including three women, because the archives of the Francisque Council had been destroyed towards the end of the war. The work of the archivist Jérôme (the pseudonym of the publicist Henry Coston ), "The Order of Francisque" (Paris, Publications HC, 1995, 64 pages), gives about 2,000 names: