The Medal of the Armed Resistance 1940-1945

• Time Period: Second World War
• Institution: 16 February 1946
• Country: Belgium

The Resistance Medal 1940–1945 (Médaille de la Résistance 1940–1945 / Medaille van de Weerstand 1940–1945) is a Belgian war medal established on 16 February 1946 by royal decree of the Regent and awarded to all members of the Belgian armed resistance during the Second World War.

The medal was also awarded to members of the intelligence service who operated in occupied territories and participated in combat actions aimed at the liberation of Belgium.

The Medal of the Armed Resistance 1940-1945 Design

The medal measures 39mm in diameter and is circular and struck in bronze.

The obverse bears the upper body of a young woman facing left in defiance with her right fist clenched. The reverse bears the relief inscription in Latin on three lines “1940 RESISTERE 1945” superimposed over a laurel wreath.

The ribbon measures 37 mm wide and is black silk moiré, with two central 1 mm wide red stripes 5 mm apart and 4 mm light green edge stripes. The colors of the ribbon are symbolic, the black denoting the dark days of the German occupation and/or the clandestine nature of the resistance, the green stood the hope of liberation and the red for the spilled blood of the resistance members. The medal is suspended by a ring through a suspension loop.