The Medal of a liberated France () was a decoration of the French Republic created by decree on 12 September 1947 and originally named the "Medal of Gratitude of a Liberated France" (). It was intended as a reward for French and foreign nationals that had made a notable contribution to the liberation of France from the German occupation. A decree of 7 October 1947 defined the medal's design and added it would be awarded under the authority of the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Victims of War () on advice from a board composed of twenty-one members including the President of the National Assembly, the Vice-President of the State Council, a representative of the National Council of the Resistance, a general officer and a representative of the Justice Ministry. A later decree of 16 June 1948 gave it its present name and added a member from the Interior Ministry to the board charged with selecting recipients from the applications. A further decree of 4 June 1949 followed by ministerial instructions on 1 December 1950 redefined both the composition of the board and award prerequisites. The board was composed of: Grand chancellor of the Legion of Honour; Chancellor of the Order of Liberation; Representative of the Keeper of the Seals of France; Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Representative of the Ministry of the Interior; General officer designated by the Minister of Defence; Four representatives from veterans' and war victims' organizations designated by the minister. This number was brought up to five by a decree of 19 January 1950 and to six by a decree of 20 April 1951. Award statute The Medal of a liberated France could be awarded: To soldiers of the allied armies who participated in war operations on the soil of Metropolitan France or soil under French mandate between 3 September 1939 and 20 August 1945; To soldiers of allied armies who served as liaison with the French forces between 18 June 1940 and 20 August 1945; To French nationals who made a notable contribution to the liberation of Metropolitan France or soil under French mandate between 18 June 1940 and 20 August 1945. Recipients of the following French awards received in conjunction with the liberation of France could not receive the Medal of a liberated France: Legion of Honour for feats with the resistance; Cross of the Order of Liberation; Military Medal for feats