Contact Us

The National Commission of the Resistance Medal

As decided by General De Gaulle since 1966 the services of the French Resistance Medal have been the responsibility of the Chancellery of the Order of the Liberation. The Resistance Medal was created by General De Gaulle with edict No. 42 and decree No. 774, dated 9 February 1943. The Resistance Medal is, "meant to recognize remarkable acts of faith and courage that have contributed, in France, the Empire and abroad, to the French people's resistance against the enemy and their accomplices, as of June 18th, 1940". This distinction has been awarded to 62,751 Resistance fighters. Its creation The National Commission of the Resistance Medal was instituted by Article 3 of decree No. 774.

Resistance Medal with rosette

Its original role

The National Commission of the Resistance Medal originally had four members and was responsible for giving its opinion regarding each proposal presented for candidates for this honor.

The first members of the National Commission were named by decree No. 909 of 6 April 1943: Major Claude Hettier de Boislambert, President, Antoine Bissagnet, Jacques Emile Paris, and Commander Pierre Brossolette. 

Its current role

The Commission was deactivated April 1st, 1947, except for deportees kept prisoners in a concentration camp who died for France, who may still be awarded the medal posthumously. Since then, the Defense Ministry consults with the National Commission regarding each file presented requesting posthumous award.

The Commission also manages the files of the Medal recipients, handles the various requests for information concerning Resistance Medal awardees, and prepares the diplomas that indicate who the recipient of the Medal is.

Current membership

The National Commission of the Resistance Medal is currently presided by Mr Pierre Messmer, Chancellor of the Order of the Liberation, and its members are :

Mr. Lucien Duval, Commission Secretary
Ms. Liliane Schroeder
Mr. Charles Gonard
Ms. Charlotte Nadel
Mr. Lucien Neuwirth
Mr. General (CR) Georges Roidot
Mr. Pierre Le Rolland
Mr. Paul Burlet
Mr. Jacques Cristiani
Mr. Michel Decam
Mr. Olivier de Sarnez-Lebel
Mr. Daniel Gieules
Mr. Pierre Morel

 

 

 

Last updated: March 25th, 2011
Contact the webmaster