- Time Period: Second World War
- Institution: 20 October 1947
- Country: Belgium
The Prisoner of War Medal 1940–1945 (Médaille du Prisonnier de Guerre 1940-1945 / Krijgsgevangenenmedaille 1940-1945) is a Belgian war service medal established on 20 October 1947 by royal decree.
The medal was awarded to all members of the Belgian Armed Forces imprisoned by Axis Forces during the Second World War.
The Prisoner of War Medal 1940-1945 Design
The medal measures 38 mm in diameter and is circular and struck in bronze. It’s surmounted by a three-dimensional 25 mm high royal crown mounted on a pin giving the entire assembly (medal and crown) a height of 64 mm.
The obverse bears a broadsword pointing down superimposed over a Greek cross with slightly flared ends and the years “1940” and “1945” inscribed in relief on the lateral cross arms. Two triangular laurel leaves protrude from between the cross arms fanning out and a ring of barbed wire encircles the cross along the circumference and 3mm from the medal’s edge. The reverse bears a guard tower and prison camp fence surrounded by a chain along the circumference and 3mm from the medal’s edge.
The ribbon is 37 mm wide black silk moiré with narrow longitudinal 1 mm red/black/yellow/black/red stripes 2 mm from the edges. The medal was suspended by a ring through the crown’s orb. The years of imprisonment were denoted on the ribbon by small striated metal bars.
