Medal of Belgian Gratitude
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (January 2023) |
| Medal of Belgian Gratitude 1940-1945 | |
|---|---|
 Medal of Belgian gratitude | |
| Type | Military decoration |
| Awarded for | Display of humanitarian patriotism by acts of courage |
| Presented by |  Kingdom of Belgium |
| Eligibility | Belgian or foreign civilians |
| Clasps | Red cross, embedded in the medal |
| Status | Dormant |
| Established | 1 August 1945 |
 Ribbon | |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Queen Elisabeth Medal |
| Next (lower) | Volunteer combatant medal WW I |
The Medal of Belgian Gratitude (French: Médaille de la Reconnaissance Belge; Dutch: Belgische erkentelijkheidsmedaille) is a Belgian medal instituted to be awarded to civilians on 1 August 1945.
Insignia[edit]
The medal measures 34 mm in diameter and has an octagonal shape. The obverse depicts a veiled woman (representing Belgium) facing to the right, with a rapier in her right hand, raised in salute. The medal came in 3 versions: gold, silver and bronze.
The reverse bears the inscription “PATRIA GRATA 1940 1945” with a decorative pattern on either side of the inscription. The medal is attached to the ribbon via a laurel wreath. The laurel wreath is open in the center. However, the wreath is filled with a red cross when it is awarded for meritorious service during the administration of aid to the sick or the wounded (Dutch: voor verdienstelijke daden bij hulpverlening aan zieken of gekwetsten).[1]
The ribbon is purple, with 3 central stripes of black, yellow and red, the colors of the Belgian national flag.
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| Medal of Belgian gratitude in gold, silver and bronze, with and without red enamel cross |
Award conditions[edit]
The medal of Belgian gratitude was awarded for devotion to philanthropy in order to relieve people from the depravations of the war (Dutch: menslievende instellingen tot leniging van oorlogsnood).
Notable recipients (partial list)[edit]
- The gold medal was awarded to the Dutch town of Vught as a token of gratitude towards its citizens for their acts of compassion towards the Belgian political prisoners held in nearby Herzogenbusch concentration camp.[2]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- Decree of the Prince Regent of 1 August 1945 creating a medal of Belgian gratitude
- Quinot H., 1950, Recueil illustré des décorations belges et congolaises, 4e Edition. (Hasselt)
- Cornet R., 1982, Recueil des dispositions légales et réglementaires régissant les ordres nationaux belges. 2e Ed. N.pl., (Brussels)
- Borné A.C., 1985, Distinctions honorifiques de la Belgique, 1830-1985 (Brussels)
