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Gradia Militaria

The Belgian Prisoner of War Medal 1940-1945

The Belgian Prisoner of War Medal 1940-1945

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 The Belgian Prisoner of War Medal 1940-1945 (French: Medaille du Prisonnier de Guerre 1940-1945
It was established by royal decree on 20 October 1947 and awarded to all members of the Belgian Armed Forces imprisoned by Axis Forces during the Second World War.
The obverse bears a broadsword pointing down superimposed over a Greek cross with the years “1940” and “1945” inscribed in relief on the lateral cross arms, with two triangular laurel leaves fanning out and a ring of barbed wire encircling the cross near the edge. The reverse bears a guard tower and prison camp fence surrounded by a chain along the circumference. Both elements are clearly visible in your photos.
The ribbon is 37mm wide black silk moire with narrow longitudinal red/black/yellow/black/red stripes near the edges – the Belgian national colours.
Around 225,000 Belgian soldiers – approximately 30 percent of the total force mobilised in 1940 – were deported to prisoner-of-war camps in Germany, Austria, and Poland. Most were forced to work in quarries or agriculture, and around 2,000 died in captivity, mostly from disease and lack of medical attention. As many as 70,000 remained imprisoned until 1945.

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