Bonjour everybody,
I am just courious to know about the clasps (agrafes) of French Medaille Defence National.
If a soldier qualifies for this medal, will the first clasp be the branch of service (Genie, Infanterie, Troupes, Aeroportées etc.) or which one is the first?
How does he get the next clasps like geographical ones?
When he gets one of upper class, can he change the clasps from the previous bronze medal to the new one?
How many clasps are allowed to wear at the same time? May a soldier have earned more clasps than he is allowed to wear?

Cordialement, Harri

Hello Harri,

Every degree of this medal can be awarded with 1 clasp (speciality only) or 2 clasps (speciality + geographical), and we can wear the clasps of the lower degrees within the limits of 3.

Best regards,

Laurent.

Bonjour and Thank you Laurent for most informing answer.

Best Regards, Harri

Hi

Why does 3eme REI qualify for the Infantry bar, but 2eme REI does not?

It is a question I have always wondered about....

Thanks
Chris

Hi Cris and the rest of the group....
That really is a good point that I even hadn't noticed . So, which clasp 2REI qualifys for?
2 REP gualifys for PARACHUTISTE and 1&2 REG for GENIE ???? What about 1REC, DMLE and 13DBLE ?

Cordialement, Harri

Good afternoon HARI,

Your questions are really pertinent, it would be necessary to have the right handbook on the desk to answer without any mistakes !!!
In fact, you may receive this medal because :
- you collected the right number of point needed for it, and so you put on the ribon the clasp of speciality
- you are really performant somewhere or for an authority, so you may receive it with a geographical clasp or function (eg : "Ministre de la Defense" means this minister attributed you the medal)
- You are very very very performant and in this case you may receive the golden medal with Palm or Stars like for "Croix de Guerre" .

Your's

LCD

Bonjour a tous ,
and thanks to LDC for clarifying the award system.
There's still one question "eating" me. Is it possible to get 3 clasps at the same time like for example LEGION ETRANGERE, TROUPES AEROPORTEES and MISSIONS D'ASSISTANCE EXTERIOURE in a bronze medal?
Looking at Crabe-Tambour's comment above, I wonder when and how the clasp mentioned last was awarded, meaning separately later or all three at the same time .

Cordialement, Harri.

Hy HARRI,

For me your proposal is quite realistic . That would mean the soldier is enlisted at the 2° REP and received his "Def-Nat" after having been in an operation overseas.

You're wright .

Your's

LCD

Hi Harri,

No, it's normally impossible : the decree of 1982 changed in 2004 allows only to award at the same time one single speciality bar (here "LÉGION ÉTRANGÈRE" or "TROUPES AÉROPORTÉES"), or one speciality bar and one geographical bar (here "MISSIONS D'ASSISTANCE EXTÉRIEURE"). To wear two speciality bars, it's therefore necessary to have the silver medal at least.

Best regards,

Laurent.

Hi again and,
thanks again for LCD and Crabe-Tambour for clarification. There seems to be an situation practice against rules as I have two sets of medas of a former legionnaire that I know personally (caporal in 2e REP in 1987-92) and in both sets there are these mentioned three clasps in bronze DefNat.

Cordialement, Harri.

In 1989-94 ALL REP members had 3 bars... with Bronze medals. A very small portion had 2 bars (LE and TAP)

Guys from 3eme REI got it with infantry bar and LE, 2eme REI guys got it with LE.

A Caporal Chef once told me it was because 2eme RAI was no longer "Infantry" but Motorised Infantry.

Best
Chris

Hi again and thanks to Chris for great help.
Could you please clarify just one more thing. Were the three clasps you mentioned awarded at the same time or the Assistance..... later to be added to the ribbon?

Yours, Harri

HI,

mine was awarded with LE and Missions bars. I think 2 is the maximum that fit onto the line on the certificate.

Maybe the REP guys just automatically added a TAP bar?

I am not sure.

Best
Chris

Hello everybody,
and thaks to Chris for clarifying this matter.

Yours, Harri

Hi Harri,

You can see a example of Def' Nat' diploma with bar attribution :

http://www.forum-insignes-medailles.net/vos-diplomes-vieux-papiers-f29/un-ptit-gars-du-2-rep-t15006.htm

regards

Jean-Phy

Hello and very late thanks to Jean-Phy for a good link, especially as this soldier was serving in the Legion.

Another question concerning the front side figure of the DefNat medal. I know that it is based on Rude's relief Marseillaise in the Arc of Triumf, but as I do not know the folkloristic backround of the relief, I have to ask what are those animals on top of the female figures head. In un-official versions there seems to be a "Coq Gauloise" symbolizing alertness or readiness for battle (I have done some studies, you see).
But in official version of MP there seems to be an small mammal. What is the meanin or what is it symbolizing?

Cordialement, Harri.

Hi Harri

In the unofficial version you find the exact representation of the Marseillaise by Rude, with the fighting 'coq' on the hat.

In the official version, you find the Republic (the very sexy woman ), with its hat, a "bonnet phrygien", which is a legendary French revolutionary hat... and the fighting coq has disappeared I don't know why (too warrior ?). Moreover, yo can see a complete 'bonnet phrygien' on the reverse of the def'nat medal.



Regards
Bison

Hello Bison,
and thanks for answer with good pictures. I agree what you said abour the female figure, is it also Marianne as it seems to be representing the Repuliqie, but I also like the eyes of Miss Smurff.
Still wondering what animal is on top of the bonnet Phrygien in the official version and why?

Best Regards, Harri.

Servus!
My vote for the worst Marianne?

This one for sure! I heard the man who did the design has worked for 30 years at the "Park Astrix" doing publicity posters....

Best
Chris

Hi Chris and Harri
I made a mistake. The big bird on the hat of the 'Marseillaise' is not a cock. It is a fury, a mythical animal standing for French hate and furor (YEEEES!!!!) The gentle cock is laying quietly near the right wing of the 'Marseillaise'. We French are always accused to be the trouble of Europe (and sometimes of the world )... it is wrong! It is the fault of the fury! La furia francese!




Yours, furiously
Bison