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Category: France

The Medal for the Military Protection of the Territory

The Medal for the Military Protection of the Territory (or “Médaille de la protection militaire du territoire” in French) is a French state decoration established on 13 July 2015 by presidential decree 2015-853 and awarded to military personnel of the French Armed Forces for service during national security operations on French national territory.

It was created to recognize service following the need for an increased military presence during national security operations following the rise of international terrorism and the many incidents in France over the past years.

The Minister of Defense is responsible for the administration of the medal and will determine by decree:

  • the operations giving the right to the award of the medal and its related clasp;
  • the dates during the same operations that give the right to the award of the medal and its related clasp;
  • the minimum number of days served during the same operations giving the right to the award of the medal and its related clasp.

In exceptional circumstances, the Minister of Defense may award the medal and its related clasp to soldiers killed or wounded during one of these operations.

The Medal for Military Protection of the Territory Design

The Medal for the Military Protection of the Territory is a 30 mm in diameter circular medal struck from bronze.

Its obverse bears the effigy of the Republic with the relief inscription above “RÉPUBLIQUE” and below “FRANÇAISE” (“FRENCH REPUBLIC”). The reverse bears the relief inscription on five lines “MÉDAILLE” “DE LA” “PROTECTION MILITAIRE” “DU” “TERRITOIRE” (“MEDAL” “FOR THE” “MILITARY PROTECTION” “OF THE” “TERRITORY”).

The medal hangs from a 38 mm wide silk moiré ribbon passing through a ring through the medal’s ball-shaped suspension loop. The ribbon bears the national colors of France in the following pattern: 14 mm wide blue vertical central stripe bordered by white 8 mm wide stripes with 5 mm wide red edge stripes.

The medal is always awarded with a clasp and multiple clasps may be worn simultaneously. Five clasps are currently approved for wear on the ribbon of the Medal for the Military Protection of the Territory:

  • SENTINELLE for participation in Opération Sentinelle;
  • HARPIE for effective participation in the “Harpie” mission;
  • TRIDENT for effective participation in military surveillance and protection missions of French airspace, waters and land areas between 1 July 2013 to a date not yet specified. 
  • JUPITER for effective participation in military surveillance and protection missions by strategic forces between 1 July 2013 to a date not yet specified. 
  • ÉGIDE for effective participation in the military protection of military assets, public and state buildings, of international organizations and diplomatic and consular missions between 1 July 2013 to a date not yet specified. 

The French Commemorative Medal

The French commemorative medal (or “Médaille commémorative française” in French) is a French decoration intended to recognize civilians and soldiers who took part in specific missions ordered by the French government carried out outside of French national territory after March 1, 1991.

It was established by decree 95-1098 on 9 October 1995 on the initiative of the then Defence Minister, François Léotard. The Minister of Defense decides by individual decree each theatre of operations in which the medal may be earned, the start and end dates for award eligibility, and the minimal time in theatre required to earn the award.

The medal may be awarded to foreign military and civilians having served under French command, subject to approval by their own governments. 

The medal is always worn with at least one clasp. Each operational mission clasp can only be earned once.

The French Commemorative Medal Design

The French commemorative medal is a 30mm in diameter circular gilded medal struck from bronze.

The obverse bears the effigy of the republic three quarters facing and wearing a Phrygian cap surrounded by the relief inscription along the medal circumference “RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE” (“FRENCH REPUBLIC”). The reverse is arranged akin a stylized globe, at the center, the relief image of a vertical sword pointing up within an olive wreath, the inscription “MÉDAILLE COMMÉMORATIVE FRANÇAISE” (“FRENCH COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL”) superimposed over it in relief.

The medal hangs from a ribbon through a ring passing through the medal’s ball shaped suspension loop. The 38mm wide silk moiré ribbon is divided into four red and three blue alternating 5mm wide stripes and is edged with 1,5mm green stripes.

To date, ten operational mission clasps have been approved for wear on the ribbon:

  • EX-YOUGOSLAVIE 1991
  • HAÏTI 1993, 2004, 2010
  • ALBANIE 1997 – 2001
  • TIMOR-ORIENTAL 1999 – 2000
  • AFGHANISTAN 2001
  • ASIE DU SUD-EST 2004
  • GÉORGIE 2008
  • LIBYE 2011
  • JORDANIE 2012
  • GUINÉE 2015

The Medal of the Nation’s Gratitude

The Medal of the Nation’s Gratitude (or “Medaille de Reconnaissance de la Nation” in French) is a French state decoration established on 12 April 2002 by decree 2002-511 and awarded to civilians, veterans of civil or military service, and to members of the French armed forces previously awarded the “Title of the Nation’s Gratitude”, a governmental scroll certifying to honorable service abroad.

The medal was primarily established to replace the North Africa medal with broader and more inclusive prerequisites following years of pressure on the French government by veterans’ organizations.

The Medal of the Nation’s Gratitude is awarded to persons who have previously been awarded the Title of the Nation’s Gratitude, its particular award criteria were fixed by law No. 93-7 of 4 January 1993. Potential recipients must meet the following conditions:

  • People who, as members of the military, and for at least 90 days, consecutive or not, served in a formation of the French army or who were detached to a foreign army during the time periods and in the theatres of operation determined by the law;
  • Civilians of French nationality who were involved in these conflicts, operations or missions and meeting the prerequisites set by the Minister of Defence.

The Medal of the Nation’s Gratitude Design

The Medal of the Nation’s Gratitude is a 34mm in diameter circular medal struck from bronze and gilded.

Its obverse bears the effigy of the Republic on surrounded by the relief inscription “RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE” (“FRENCH REPUBLIC”). The reverse bears the relief inscription on four lines “MÉDAILLE” “DE” “RECONNAISSANCE” “DE LA NATION” (“MEDAL” “OF” “GRATITUDE” “OF THE NATION”) over the relief image of a sprig of three oak leaves.

The medal hangs from a ribbon passing through a ring through the medal’s ball shaped suspension loop. The 34mm wide sand coloured silk moiré ribbon bears inverted 34mm wide and 3mm thick blue chevrons. The undress ribbon bears three such chevrons.

The medal is always awarded with a clasp and may be awarded with multiple clasps. Five clasps are currently approved for wear on the ribbon of the Medal of the Nation’s Gratitude:

  • 1914–1918
  • 1939–1945
  • INDOCHINE
  • AFRIQUE DU NORD (NORTH AFRICA)
  • OPERATIONS EXTERIEURES (FOREIGN OPERATIONS)

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon Medal

A United Nations Medal is an international decoration awarded by the United Nations (UN) to the various world countries’ militaries for participation in joint international military and police operations such as peacekeeping, humanitarian efforts, and disaster relief.

Since 1955, many additional United Nations medals have been created and awarded for participation in various United Nations missions and actions around the world.

The most common United Nations medal is the standard UN decoration known simply as the United Nations Medal. Most countries bestow this award for any action in which a member of the military participated in a joint UN activity.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon Medal Design

In situations where a service member participated in multiple UN operations, service stars, campaign clasps, or award numbers are authorized as attachments to the United Nations Medal. These devices vary depending on the regulations of the various armed forces.

Most operations utilize a different ribbon for each mission, though there have been some notable exceptions. In some countries where the UN Security Council determines a mission in the same geographic region, but changes the mission mandate by way of Security Council Resolution, there may be a number of missions which have identical campaign ribbons and then later will change the ribbon to reflect the changing environment.

The North Africa Medal

The North Africa medal (Médaille d’Afrique du Nord) was established in 1997 for those who had fought in North Africa between 1952 and 1962.

The North Africa medal (or Médaille d’Afrique du Nord in French) was a French commemorative medal established on 29 April 1997 by French President Jacques Chirac via decree 97-424, following an initiative of Pierre Pasquini, Minister for veterans’ affairs and victims of war who expressed “the importance that an exceptional decoration be established for those who had fought in North Africa“.

Unfortunately, not all veterans awarded the “Title of the Nation’s Gratitude” met the new medal’s award prerequisites and almost immediately, new pressures were placed on the government for new medals or for a single one encompassing all bearers of the Title. It took five years for the new award to be established on 12 April 2002 by decree 2002-511. 

The North Africa medal ceased to be awarded that very day following barely five years of existence. It was replaced by the Medal of the Nation’s Gratitude with the clasp “AFRIQUE DU NORD” (“NORTH AFRICA”).

The North Africa medal was bestowed to French civilians and military personnel, as well as to foreign nationals serving in the ranks of the French Foreign Legion, who held the “Title of the Nation’s Gratitude” (“Titre de la Reconnaissance de la Nation” in French) for at least ninety days service in:

  • Algeria between 31 October 31, 1954 and 2 July 1962;
  • Morocco between 31 June 1953 and 1 March 1956;
  • Tunisia between 1 January 1952 and 19 March 1956.

The North Africa Medal Design

The North Africa medal was a 34mm in diameter gilded medal struck from bronze.

The obverse bore the relief image of an Agadez cross (Southern cross) surrounded by the inscription also in relief “RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE” (“FRENCH REPUBLIC”).

The reverse bore the relief inscription on two lines “MÉDAILLE” “D’AFRIQUE DU NORD” (“MEDAL” “OF NORTH AFRICA”) over the relief image of a sprig of three oak leaves.

The medal hung from a ribbon passing through a ring through the medal’s ball shaped suspension loop. The 34mm wide sand coloured silk moiré ribbon bore inverted 34mm wide and 3mm thick blue chevrons. The undress ribbon bore three such chevrons.

The North Africa Security and Order Operations Commemorative Medal

The Commemorative Medal for Security Operations and the Maintenance of Order (or “Médaille Commémorative des Opérations de Sécurité et de Maintien de l’Ordre en Afrique du Nord” in French) is a French commemorative medal established in the late 1950s for award to members of the French armed forces and French civil servants under military authority for service in French North Africa during the hectic years that would become the end of French colonialism in the region.

A medal was initially created by decree 56-1032 of 12 October 1956 and called the Médaille Commémorative des Opérations de Sécurité et de Maintien de l’Ordre en Afrique du Nord (“Commemorative Medal for Security Operations and Maintenance of Order in North Africa”). It was designed to fill this void and recognize their service in what was officially called a “police action” to quell disorder, rather than a military campaign against an armed and organized enemy.

Decree 58-24 of 11 January 1958 modified the design and renamed the award to “Médaille Commémorative des Opérations de Sécurité et de Maintien de l’Ordre” (English: “Security and Order Operations Commemorative Medal”).

Rather than design a new medal for each operation in North Africa, the government decided to extend the eligibility, the existing medal could then be awarded to anyone who had served in North Africa during the 1950s and 1960s.

TheNorth Africa Operations Commemorative Medal Design

The medal is a 30mm in diameter circular medal struck from bronze and gilded.

The obverse, engraved by Georges Lemaire, bore an allegorical image of the warrior French Republic wearing a helmet adorned with and oak leaf wreath and surrounded by the relief inscription along the medal circumference “RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE” (“FRENCH REPUBLIC”).

On the reverse, the relief inscription on five lines “MÉDAILLE” “COMMÉMORATIVE” “OPÉRATIONS SÉCURITÉ” “ET MAINTIEN” “DE L’ORDRE” (“MEDAL” “COMMEMORATIVE” “SECURITY OPERATIONS” “AND MAINTAINING” “ORDER”) surrounded by a wreath of oak and olive leaves along the medal circumference.

The pre January 1958 variant had the reverse inscription on four lines “MÉDAILLE” “COMMÉMORATIVE” “D’AFRIQUE” “DU NORD” (English: “NORTH” “AFRICA” “COMMEMORATIVE” “MEDAL”).

The medal hung from a ribbon passing through a wreath shaped ring through the medal’s suspension loop. The red silk moiré ribbon was 36mm wide with a 14mm central light blue stripe and two 5mm wide white stripes each 1mm from the edge.

The Middle East Operations Commemorative Medal

The Middle East operations commemorative medal (or Médaille commémorative des opérations du Moyen-Orient in French) was a French commemorative medal established on 22 May 1957 to recognize the participation of French nationals in the military operations conducted during the Suez Crisis of 1956.

In 1956, Egyptian President Nasser decided to nationalize the Suez Canal Company, this action was against French and British interests in the region leading to a military intervention by both countries. For its part, France decided to send a 10,000 man strong expeditionary force under the command of Admiral Pierre Barjot and General André Beaufre. Under heavy diplomatic pressure from both the United States and the USSR, the Franco-British forces withdrew from the retaken territories and the entire expedition was abandoned after barely four months. The French forces had suffered fifteen dead.

The Middle East operations commemorative medal was awarded to French soldiers from all three services and civilians (including the crews of merchant vessels and civilian airliners) for participation in the operations that took place in the geographical area lying between the 20th and 36th Northern parallels and the 24th and 40th Eastern meridians between 1 September and 22 December 1956.

The Middle East Operations Commemorative Medal Design

The Middle East operations commemorative medal is a 30mm in diameter circular medal struck from bronze, it may be gilt.

The obverse bears the relief image of the “warrior republic” in the form of the left profile of a helmeted woman’s bust, the helmet being adorned by a crown of oak leaves. On either side, the relief inscription along the circumference “RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE” (“FRENCH REPUBLIC“).

On the reverse, the relief inscription on five lines “MÉDAILLE COMMÉMORATIVE DES OPÉRATIONS DU MOYEN-ORIENT 1956” (“MIDDLE EAST OPERATIONS COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL 1956“).

The medal hangs from a ribbon through a ring passing through the medal’s suspension loop. The ring is adorned by a 24mm in diameter bronze laurel wreath and half crescent. The silk moiré ribbon is 37mm wide and is light blue with a yellow central 7mm wide and 2mm wide stripes 2mm from the edges.

A gilt clasp bearing the relief inscription “MOYEN-ORIENT” (“MIDDLE EAST”) is worn on the ribbon.

The Order of Maritime Merit

The Ordre du Mérite Maritime (or Order of Maritime Merit in French) is a French order established on 9 February 1930 for services rendered by the seafarers to distinguish the risks involved and the services rendered by seamen.

Stressed over the importance of the economic role of the Merchant Navy to the country. The order was reorganized in 1948, and again by decree on 17 January 2002.

The order can be awarded to merchant marine crew, civilian administrators, and the crews of lifeboats and rescues, naval military personnel and individuals who have distinguished themselves in maritime field.

The Order of Merit has 3 degrees:

  • Commandeur (commander)
  • Officier (officer)
  • Chevalier (knight)

The Order of Arts and Letters

The Order of Arts and Letters (or Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in French) is an Order of France, established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture. Its purpose is the recognition of significant contributions to the arts, literature, or the propagation of these fields.

French government guidelines stipulate that citizens of France must be at least thirty years old, respect French civil law, and must have, “significantly contributed to the enrichment of the French cultural inheritance” to be considered for award. Membership is not, however, limited to French nationals; recipients include numerous foreign luminaries. Foreign recipients are admitted into the Order, “without condition of age“.

The Order has three grades:

  • Commandeur (Commander) — medallion worn on necklet; up to twenty recipients a year.
  • Officier (Officer) — medallion worn on ribbon with rosette on left breast; up to sixty recipients a year.
  • Chevalier (Knight) — medallion worn on ribbon on left breast; up to 200 recipients a year.

The Order of Arts and Letters Design

The medal of the Order is an eight-point, green-enameled asterisk, in gilt for Commanders and Officers and in silver for Knights; the obverse central disc has the letters “A” and “L” on a white enameled background, surrounded by a golden ring emblazoned with the phrase “République Française“.

The reverse central disc features the head of Marianne on a golden background, surrounded by a golden ring bearing the words “Ordre des Arts et des Lettres“. The Commander’s badge is topped by a gilt twisted ring.

The ribbon of the Order is green with four white stripes.

The Inter Allied Victory Medal (France)

The French Victory Medal was established on 20 July 1922 and awarded to all soldiers who served three months between 1914 and 1918.

The Allied Victory Medal was recommended by an inter-allied committee in March 1919. Fourteen victorious countries were finally awarded the medal after World War I, and each allied nation would design a ‘Victory Medal’ for award to their own nationals. Certain features were to be shared: a winged figure of Victory on the obverse and the same ribbon.

The French Victory Medal was established on 20 July 1922 and awarded to all soldiers who served three months between 2 August 1914 and 11 November 1918, as well as to civilian nurses, aliens who served directly under French command, Marshals and generals who had a command for at least three months, and prisoners of war from Alsace and Lorraine who then served in the French forces.

The France Inter-Allied Victory Medal Design

The Victory Medal measures 36 millimetres (1.4 in) in diameter and was designed by William McMillan. The design and ribbon was also adopted by Belgium, Brazil, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Romania, Siam, Union of South Africa and the USA. Each allied nation would design a ‘Victory Medal’ for award to their own nationals, all issues having certain common features, including a winged figure of victory on the obverse and the same ribbon.

The obverse of the medal bears the winged, full-length and full-front figure of Victoria and the designer’s signature “A. Morlon”. The reverse reads “LA GRANDE GVERRE POUR CIVILISATION 1914-1919” and a Phrygian cap between the letters R. F.

The 39 millimeters (1.5 in) wide watered ribbon has an iridescent color scheme, with the violet moving through to a central red stripe where both schemes meet. It attaches to the medal through a ring suspender. The recipient’s name, rank, service number and unit were impressed on the edge of the medal. The name of the regiment or corps was omitted on medals awarded to Army officers.

All the Inter-Allied Victory Medal Variations

Although each country designed its own version of the Inter-Allied Victory Medal, all of them shared some common elements, such as a winged victory figure on the obverse and a similar ribbon with rainbow colors symbolizing unity among the Allies. Here are the versions for all countries:

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