The Medal of Recognition 1940-1945 (Dutch

Dutch language

Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...

: Erkentelijkheidsmedaille 1940-1945) is a royal medal of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Kingdom of the Netherlands

The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a sovereign state and constitutional monarchy with territory in Western Europe and in the Caribbean. The four parts of the Kingdom—Aruba, Curaçao, the Netherlands, and Sint Maarten—are referred to as "countries", and participate on a basis of equality...

, which has been established by Royal Decree at 9 February 1946. The decoration exists in two classes, which of silver and bronze. It is awarded to those, who in the period of 1940 up to 1945 fought for the Dutch cause at occupied Netherlands, thinking of aid to the Dutch or Dutch institutions, or after the war helping the relieve of distress of persons who have suffered seriously from the occupation.

Design

The decoration exists of a round medal with a diameter of 29 millimeter, covered by a royal crown. The metal of the medal is silver or bronze according to the class. At the front Androcles is portrayed that releases the lion from the thorn. The edge inscription of the front is " SIBI BENEFACIT QUI BENEFACIT AMICO" (those who helps a friend, helps himself). On the back of the medal the Dutch lion is visible with the edge inscription " POPULUS BATAVUS GRATO ANIMO" (the grateful Dutch people). The medal hangs on 27 millimeter broad ribbon of oranje which has a white lane in the middle of 5 millimeter. The ribbon bar of this medal is orange with a broad white lane in the middle, on which a small silver crown has been placed for the class silver and a bronze crown for the bronze class.