The Resistance medal was awarded to approximately 38,288 living persons and 24,463 posthumously. These awards were both for membership in theFree French forces and for participation in the metropolitan clandestineResistance during theGerman occupation of France in World War II. Higher deeds were rewarded with theOrdre de la Libération. Proposals for the medal ceased to be accepted on 31 March 1947. For acts that occurred inIndochina, however, that date was moved back to 31 December 1947.[3]
The medal was also awarded to 18 communities and territories, 21 military units, and to 15 other organizations including convents, high schools, and hospitals that particularly distinguished themselves.[1]
Reverse of the Resistance medalFree French Officer and OSS AgentRené Joyeuse, a recipient of the Resistance medal with rosetteResistance memberLéo Figuères, a recipient of the Resistance medalResistance memberDenise Bloch, a posthumous recipient of the Resistance medalResistance leaderPierre Kaan, posthumous recipient of the Resistance medalFree French soldier and politicianPierre Messmer, a recipient of the Resistance medalInsignia of the13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion, a recipient unit of the Resistance medalCoat of arms of theBrest commune, a recipient community of the Resistance medal
The Resistance medal was awarded by theChief of a Fighting France to French, and rarely non-French, individuals and communities:[3]
who took an especially active part since 18 June 1940 in the resistance againstAxis forces and their accomplices on French soil or in a territory under French sovereignty;
who took an effective and important part in the rallying of French territories toFighting France or rendered services in the war effort of those territories that were confirmed and logged;
who played an eminent role in the actions of organizations of Fighting France abroad or in propaganda destined at regrouping and supporting the forces of the resistance;
who rallied troops, ships or aircraft in exceptionally difficult or dangerous conditions;
who joined the Free French Forces in particularly dangerous and meritorious conditions.
The Resistance medal may be revoked by decree following any act contrary to honour or integrity, whether committed prior to or after bestowal of the medal.[3]
The Resistance medal is a 37mm in diameter circular medal struck from bronze. Its slightlyconcaveobverse bears at center a verticalCross of Lorraine with the relief semi circular inscription of the date of General de Gaulle'sappeal of 18 June 1940 inRoman numerals "XVIII.VI.MCMXL" (18.06.1940) bisected by the lower part of the cross. The reverse bears the relief image of an unfurling ribbon bearing the relief inscription inLatin "PATRIA NON IMMEMOR" translating into "THE NATION DOES NOT FORGET". The suspension is cast as an integral part of the medal.[4]
The medal hangs from a 36mm wide black silkmoiré ribbon with six vertical red stripes of varying widths, 3mm wide edge stripes, two 1mm wide central stripes 2mm apart, and two 1mm wide stripes 6mm from the central stripes. A 28mm in diameter rosette is on the ribbon of theOfficer of the Resistance medal.[3]
Sébastienne Guyot (1896–1941), engineer, olympic athlete, died as a result of treatment in prison after attempting to rescue brother from detention camp.
Recipient communities and organizations (partial list)
France
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