The Ordre de la Libération (“Order of the Liberation”) is a French Order awarded to heroes of the Liberation of France during the Second World War. It is an exceptional honor, the second highest after the Légion d’Honneur (Legion of Honor) and only a small number of people and military units have received it, exclusively for deeds accomplished during the Second World War. A different order, the Médaille de la Résistance, was created and awarded for less distinguished deeds in the Resistance.
The Ordre de la Libération was instituted on November, 16, 1940 by General De Gaulle, in the order n° 7 signed in Brazzaville. The aim of the Order is to “reward people, or military or civilian communities, who will have distinguished themselves in the work of liberation France and her Empire”.

There are no criteria relating to age, sex, rank, origin or nationality, nor are there any requirements in the nature of the deeds, apart from their exceptional quality.

The Order has one single rank, awarding the title of Compagnon de la Libération (“Companion of the Liberation”). General De Gaulle, founder of the Order, has been the only Grand Maître (“Grand Master”) of the Order.
The last award was given on January, 23, 1946.



The medal of the Order is called Croix de la Libération (“Cross of the Liberation”). It is a bronze rectangular shield with a gladium carrying a cross of Lorraine (symbol of the Free French Forces), and with the Latin motto “PATRIAM SERVANDO VICTORIAM TULIT” on the reverse (“By serving the Fatherland, he/she achieved Victory”). The ribbon has the colors black for mourning, and green for hope, symbolizing the state of France in 1940. The first ribbons had diagonal black stripes, British-style; from August-September 1942 on, the subsequent versions had two vertical black stripes.
The medal is usually given in the military ceremonial of the taking of arms. The relevant person would be called by his rank and name, and given the insignia while being told: Nous vous reconnaissons comme notre Compagnon pour la libération de la France dans l’honneur et par la Victoire (“We acknowledge you as our companion for the Liberation of France, in honour and by Victory”).

The first cross with the first ribbon:




Best regards.

Guillaume