1,038 individuals, five French communes and 18 combat units are Companions of the Liberation. Just over 700 Companions survived the war. 270 were acknowledged posthumously. 50 already-acknowledged Companions were killed in action or in the line of duty before the war ended.

Army units began to form following the appeal of 18 June 1940. These were mainly simple battalions or even simple companies, which, as the territories rallied and new volunteers came in, were gradually transformed into regiments.

Free France's naval arm – the Free French Naval Forces (FAFL) – was created on 1 July 1940. For exceptional feats in action, three of its units, two vessels and the First Regiment of Fusiliers Marins received the Cross of Liberation.

As part of its activities and promotion of the museum's cultural program, The Order of the Liberation has made available a number of the documents it has produced.

The museum houses a center for research and documentation. The reading room is open Monday to Friday during museum opening hours. The research center can be accessed via 51 bis boulevard de la Tour-Maubourg, 75007 Paris, by appointment only.

General de Gaulle's consideration of the chance to create a new decoration led him to found a commission on 19 July 1942 to “recognise the remarkable acts of faith and bravery which, in France, throughout the Empire and abroad, have been contributing to the resistance of the French people against th