Order of Liberation

Order of Liberation
Order of Liberation (obverse)
TypeSingle degree Order of Merit
Awarded forOutstanding contribution to the liberation of occupied France
Presented by France
StatusNo longer awarded
Established16 November 1940
First awarded29 January 1941
Last awarded23 January 1946
Total1038
Total awarded posthumously270
Websiteordredelaliberation.fr
Ribbon of the Order of Liberation
Precedence
Next (higher)Legion of Honour
Next (lower)Military Medal
Reverse of the Order of Liberation
Fourragère of the Order of Liberation
General Charles de Gaulle, Grand Chancellor of the Order of Liberation

The Order of Liberation (French: Ordre de la Libération) is a French Order which was awarded to heroes of the Liberation of France during World War II. It is a very high honour, second only after the Légion d’Honneur (Legion of Honour). Very few people, military units and communes were ever awarded it; and only for their deeds during World War II. A different order, the Médaille de la Résistance ("Resistance Medal"), was created and awarded for lesser but still distinguished deeds by members of the Resistance.[1]

  1. ^ Battini, Jean; Zaniewicki, Witold (2003). Guide pratique des décorations françaises actuelles. Paris: LAVAUZELLE. pp. 29–36. ISBN 2-7025-1030-2.