Definition
The Order of Liberation (French: Ordre de la Libération) is a French order of merit established by General Charles de Gaulle in 1940 to honor individuals, military units and communities that rendered distinguished service toward the liberation of France during World War II.
Overview
- Creation and purpose: Instituted by a decree of 16 November 1940, the Order was intended to recognize extraordinary contributions to the French Resistance, the Free French Forces, and the eventual liberation of metropolitan France and its overseas territories.
- Awarding period: The order was awarded from 1940 until 1946; no new appointments have been made since then.
- Recipients: A total of 1,061 individuals, 18 military units, and five French communes received the distinction. Notable recipients include Charles de Gaulle, Winston Churchill, and members of the French Resistance.
- Place in the French honors system: The Order of Liberation ranks immediately after the Légion d’honneur in the hierarchy of French national orders.
Etymology / Origin
The name derives directly from the French term Ordre de la Libération, literally “Order of the Liberation.” It was conceived during the early years of the German occupation as a symbolic counterpart to the Légion d’honneur, emphasizing the specific goal of freeing France from occupation.
Characteristics
- Structure: The Order has a single grade; there are no classes such as Knight, Officer, etc.
- Insignia: The badge is a gilt five‑pointed star superimposed on a laurel wreath, centred by a medallion bearing the Cross of Lorraine (the emblem of the Free French). The badge hangs from a red silk ribbon edged with four narrow white stripes.
- Motto: The order’s motto, displayed on the reverse of the badge, is Patriam Servare (“to preserve the fatherland”).
- Administration: While no further awards are made, the order’s legacy is overseen by the Association de la Libération, which maintains the Order’s archives and operates the Musée de l’Ordre de la Libération in Paris.
- Status of the order: The last surviving member of the Order died in 2021, effectively closing the living body of the order, though the institution remains a historic honor.
Related Topics
- Légion d’honneur – France’s premier order of merit.
- French Resistance – The underground movement that contributed to the liberation efforts recognized by the Order.
- Free French Forces – Military units formed abroad under de Gaulle that fought for France’s liberation.
- French honors system – The hierarchy and categories of French national decorations.
- Musée de l’Ordre de la Libération – Museum dedicated to the history of the Order and its recipients.