History

The Order of Combatant Merit was created on September 14, 1953. It was later replaced by the National Order of Merit on December 3, 1963.

The Order was awarded for service and dedication to organizations devoted to veterans and victims of war. The Knight was awarded to a person of at least 40 years of age for a minimum of 15 years of service. Knights could be promoted to Officer after 6 years, and Officers could be promoted to Commander after 4 years.

The obverse inscription translates to “French Republic Combatant Merit,” and the reverse inscription translates to “Honour and Devotion.”

There may be additional versions that differ in size, composition, or manufacturer.