Ordre du Mérite militaire (France)

For the older order of the same name, see Order of Military Merit (France).
Ordre du Mérite militaire
Knight of the Ordre du Mérite militaire
Awarded by  France
TypeOrder with three degrees:
StatusDeprecated 3 December 1963 by the Ordre National du Mérite
Grades
  • Commandeur
  • Officier
  • Chevalier
Precedence
Next (higher)Ordre du Mérite Maritime


The Ordre du Mérite militaire (Order of Military Merit) was a ministerial order of merit of France created on 22 March 1957 to recognize the contributions of active members of the military reserves during times of peace. The order was administered and awarded the Ministry of Defence. The order was created to replace the Croix des services militaires volontaires established in 1934. Holders of the Cross were made members of the Ordre du Mérite militaire, bronze holders as knights, silver holders as officers, and gold holders as commanders.[1]

The Order was deprecated by decree on 3 December 1963, and superseded by the Ordre national du Mérite. Extant members may continue to display their decorations.[2]

Classes

The Order has three classes:

  • Commandeur (Commander)
  • Officier (Officer)
  • Chevalier (Knight)
Ribbon bars
Knight
Officer
Commander

References

  1. ^ "LOI n° 57-353 du 22 mars 1957 créant un Ordre du Mérite militaire". Journal Officiel de la République Française (in French). Légifrance: 3075–3076. 23 March 1957. ISSN 0373-0425. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  2. ^ "Décret n° 63-1196 du 3 décembre 1963". Journal Officiel de la République Française (in French). Légifrance: 10834–10837. 3 December 1963. ISSN 0373-0425. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ordre du Mérite militaire (France).
  • Marc Champenois (9 August 2008). "Ordre du Mérite civil". Les décorations Francaises (in French). Retrieved 2009-02-06.