Informal emblem of the French State (1940–1944)

The Order of the Gallic Francisque () is an order and medal which was awarded by the

Vichy Regime Vichy France (french: Régime de Vichy; 10 July 1940 – 9 August 1944), officially the French State ('), was the fascist French state headed by Marshal Philippe Pétain during World War II. Officially independent, but with half of its te ...

, the Nazi-aligned government of France during World War II. The order was created by the ''arrêtés'' of 26 May 1941, the law of 16 May 1941 and the decrees of 14 March 1942 and 31 July 1942. The Francisque was the personal symbol of Philippe Pétain, Marshal of France and Head of State. Although the personal symbol of

Philippe Pétain Henri Philippe Benoni Omer Pétain (24 April 1856 – 23 July 1951), commonly known as Philippe Pétain (, ) or Marshal Pétain (french: Maréchal Pétain), was a French general who attained the position of Marshal of France at the end of World ...

, the francisque was gradually used on official documents as the coat of arms of the Vichy regime.

Description

Although called francisque, the medal and generally speaking the symbol used on official document is a

labrys ''Labrys'' ( gr, , lábrus) is, according to Plutarch (''Quaestiones Graecae'' 2.302a), the Lydian word for the double-bitted axe. In Greek it was called (''pélekus''). The Ancient Greek plural of ''labrys'' is ''labryes'' (). Etymology ...

Notable holders

At least, 2626 persons received the order of the Francisque.L'ordre de la Francisque (Paris, Publications H.C, 1995, 64 pages) The official number remains unknown as the archives listing all the holders burnt at the end of the Second World War. The holders include: * The widow of the général Charles Huntziger was the first to receive the order of the francisque; * The

Lumière brothers Lumière is French for 'light'. Lumiere, Lumière or Lumieres may refer to: * Lumières, the philosophical movement in the Age of Enlightenment People *Auguste and Louis Lumière, French pioneers in film-making Film and TV * Institut Lumière, ...

in 1941; * Raymond Marcellin; *

François Mitterrand François Marie Adrien Maurice Mitterrand (26 October 19168 January 1996) was President of France, serving under that position from 1981 to 1995, the longest time in office in the history of France. As First Secretary of the Socialist Party, h ...

(1943), later French president, recipient number 2202; * Raoul Salan; *

Marc Boegner Marc Boegner, commonly known as ''pasteur'' Boegner (; 21 February 1881 – 18 December 1970), was a theologian, pastor, essayist, notable member of the French Resistance and a notable voice in the ecumenical movement. Biography Marc Boegner wa ...

, reverend of the French Protestant Church and president of the Protestant Federation of France; * Paul Dungler; * Charles Vanel, actor; *

Pierre Fresnay Pierre Fresnay (4 April 1897 – 9 January 1975) was a French stage and film actor. Biography Born Pierre Jules Louis Laudenbach, he was encouraged by his uncle, actor Claude Garry, to pursue a career in theater and film. He joined the company a ...

, actor; * , father of the former French president

Valéry Giscard d'Estaing Valéry René Marie Georges Giscard d'Estaing (, , ; 2 February 19262 December 2020), also known as Giscard or VGE, was a French politician who served as President of France from 1974 to 1981. After serving as Minister of Finance under prime ...

; * Jacques Ploncard d'Assac, journalist and writer; *

Charles Maurras Charles-Marie-Photius Maurras (; ; 20 April 1868 – 16 November 1952) was a French author, politician, poet, and critic. He was an organizer and principal philosopher of '' Action Française'', a political movement that is monarchist, anti-pa ...

, journalist and writer; * Henry Coston, journalist and writer; * Maxime Real del Sarte, sculptor; * Antoine Pinay, French politician; * Henri Pourrat, actor; * Xavier Vallat, French politician; *

Jean-Louis Tixier-Vignancour Jean-Louis Tixier-Vignancour (12 October 1907 – 29 September 1989) was a French lawyer and far-right politician. Elected to the National Assembly in 1936, he initially collaborated with the Vichy regime before leaving for Tunisia in 1941. After a ...

, French politician; * Pierre Dunoyer de Segonzac, founder of the École des cadres d'Uriage; * Paul Morand, writer; *

Louis II, Prince of Monaco Louis II (Louis Honoré Charles Antoine Grimaldi; 12 July 1870 – 9 May 1949) was Prince of Monaco from 26 June 1922 to 9 May 1949. Early years Born in Baden-Baden, (Germany), he was the only child of Albert I, Prince of Monaco (1848–1922), a ...

; * René de Chambrun, lawyer, and son-in-law of

Pierre Laval Pierre Jean Marie Laval (; 28 June 1883 – 15 October 1945) was a French politician. During the Third Republic, he served as Prime Minister of France from 27 January 1931 to 20 February 1932 and 7 June 1935 to 24 January 1936. He again occu ...

; *

Maurice Couve de Murville Jacques-Maurice Couve de Murville (; 24 January 1907 – 24 December 1999) was a French diplomat and politician who was Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1958 to 1968 and Prime Minister from 1968 to 1969 under the presidency of General de Gaul ...

, French politician and former Prime Minister; * , member of the French resistance, affiliated to the resistance network of

, father of

Hubert Védrine Hubert Védrine (; born 31 July 1947) is a French Socialist politician. He is an advisor at Moelis & Company. Early life and career Following a history degree and graduating from both Sciences Po and ENA, Védrine had toyed with the idea of ...

, former French minister of foreign affairs;

References

{{Authority control Civil awards and decorations of France French collaboration during World War II Vichy France