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Creation of the Order

In 1940, the main reason General De Gaulle created a new distinction is explained by the specific circumstances France was experiencing at the time. Its purpose was to reward, in an original way, the devotion of certain individuals from among those who - so few in the beginning (barely more than two thousand on the 14th of July, 1940) - decided to risk everything to participate in an adventure whose outcome was unforeseeable in 1940.

General De Gaulle at the BBC

In October of 1940, in Douala (Cameroon), after having informed Captain Thierry d'Argenlieu of his intention to politically reorganize the rallied territories of the Empire, General De Gaulle added : "Our enterprise is bristling with obstacles. The French people will be slow in joining us... Given the unpredictable circumstances were are experiencing, I have decided to create a new insignia. It shall be awarded to those among us who shall distinguish themselves in this important and difficult campaign to liberate France."

General De Gaulle, Leader of the Free French, out of respect for French institutions - which he considered as having fallen into abeyance - refused to award the medal of the Legion of Honor. He decided it was necessary to create a special and original decoration to reward exceptional merit demonstrated under circumstances that were themselves quite exceptional.

General De Gaulle's idea became a reality very quickly: on November 16th, 1940, in Brazzaville - capital of the nascent Free France, he signed Edict No. 7, which created the Order of the Liberation.

Parade of the Free French Forces, on July 14th, 1940, in London

The fact that this special Order was created so quickly demonstrates how closely it was linked, from the beginning, to the history of Free France. It also proves the importance the General gave to this Order of chivalry.

The first projects proposed creating an "Order of Liberation" whose members would be called the "Crusaders of the Liberation".

The name "Crusaders" is a clear example of the idea that originated the creation of the Order: the idea of a new Chivalry, like those of the Middle Ages, whose members would serve a cause and a quasi-religious ideal.

However, this title was almost immediately dismissed as pompous and antiquated. General De Gaulle then called upon Professor René Cassin, who wrote the final texts with the assistance of his colleagues. They finally agreed on the term "Companion", which had already been used several times throughout the history of France.

The term "Companion" was approved by General De Gaulle and was mentioned in the final edict creating the Order, published in the Official Bulletin of Free France. This term was never questioned or changed.

The Order became a reality when the first Companions were named. On January 29th, 1941, they were five, and thus formed the first Council of the Order : Captain Thierry d'Argenlieu, Governor Félix Eboué, Lieutenant Emmanuel d'Harcourt, Edmond Popieul, an officer of the Merchant Marine and Henry Bouquillard, Warrant Officer of the Free French Air Forces.

The Order of the Liberation, while maintaining its own unique characteristics, borrowed certain organizational elements from other orders.

The Order is similar to the Medieval Orders of Knighthood: its aspirations - the liberation of France, the victory over Nazism - remind one of the great Orders, such as the Order of Malta, the Holy Sepulcher and the Knights Templar, who were all united in the same spirit of fighting against the Infidel and protecting sacred places.

Because of the circumstances under which it was created, it also resembles the Order of Saint Michael, created by Louis XI in 1469. While fighting against the duke of Burgundy, Charles The Bold, he decided to create this Order to encourage his vassals to join him and fight under his banner.

Chivalry specialists did not fail to remark these common features. For example, the chain of the Grand Master of the Order of the Liberation is inspired by the chain of the Order of Saint Michael in terms of artistic design.

Last updated: October 28th, 2001
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