France – Médaille Militaire

Description

Established in 1852 by French President Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, the future Emperor Napoleon III.

It is the third highest award of the French Republic, after the Légion d’honneur, a civil and military order, and the ordre de la Libération, a Second World War-only order. The Médaille militaire is therefore the most senior entirely military active French decoration.

It is awarded to active servicemen, privates and non-commissioned officers who distinguished themselves by an act of heroism during hostilities against the enemy, second in value only to the Order of the Legion of Honour.

Other categories of officers are not awarded the medal, but generals and admirals are awarded in the position of commander and commander in chief. In this case, it is the highest in the system of military awards, even preceding the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour. It is also awarded to the ranks of the national gendarmerie and fire service.

After the First World War, the Military Medal was temporarily awarded for wounds received in combat.

The Médaille militaire is a silver laurel wreath, 28 mm (1.1 in) in diameter, wrapped around a central gold medallion bearing the left profile of Emperor Napoleon III. This is the original 2nd Empire variant 1852–1870.