After the fall of Belgium in 1940, the FN factory was taken over by the Germans and this pistol, the Browning Hi Power P-35, was produced under occupation. This example is WaA marked 140 as is one of the magazines. That magazine also has the serif U mark. This pistol takes 9mm Parabellum ammunition like the Luger and Walther P-38.
This medal was instituted on 12 February 1951 and could be awarded on either of three ribbons, depending on the type of defaulting the recipient had performed during the war.
In general the medal was awarded to those who refused forced labour or military service, ordered by the German occupant.
A green ribbon with yellow stripes indicate the recipient refused to perform military duties for the enemy, a green ribbon with white stripes was given to those who refused to do work for the Germans and a green ribbon with red stripes was awarded to those who, having been deported to Germany for forced labour and having returned on leave, refused to go back (before 6 June 1944, day of the Normandy invasion).
This is the “Médaille du Prisonnier de Guerre 1940–1945” awarded to all members of the Belgian armed forces imprisoned by the Axis. I have another example of this medal but this particular one has 5 bars on the ribbon indicating the individual spent 5 years in the German camp system.
The Maritime Medal 1940–1945 (French: Médaille Maritime 1940–1945, Dutch: Maritieme Medaille 1940–1945) was a Belgian World War II bravery award established by Royal Decree on 17 July 1941 and awarded to members of the Belgian Navy, merchant navy or fishing fleet for acts of heroism in the saving of ships or lives during an action against the enemy.
The award’s statute was later amended to include all naval personnel for service of two years or more aboard an allied warship (most often aboard a Royal Navy ship) and to those who had been shipwrecked twice due to combat actions.
This is the “Médaille du Prisonnier de Guerre 1940–1945” awarded to all members of the Belgian armed forces imprisoned by the Axis.
This is the “Médaille Commémorative de la Guerre 1940–45″. The crossed sabres denoting combat service in the 1940 campaign or service in the armed resistance. There is another variant below. The design of these Belgian medals is just so much more impressive than the British Commonwealth ones that I am used to.
This is the “Croix du Feu 1914–1918″. It was awarded to all Belgian soldiers of the First World War who actually served under fire in the frontline trenches. It is also one of my favourite medals simply because of it’s beautiful design elements.
This medal, the Médaille du Volontaire 1940–1945″ was awarded to all voluntary members of Belgian armed forces in WW2 whether they fought under the Belgian flag or in foreign units like the RAF. This is the second variant with the full figure on the obverse.
This medal, the Médaille du Volontaire 1940–1945″ was awarded to all voluntary members of Belgian armed forces in WW2 whether they fought under the Belgian flag or in foreign units like the RAF.
This medal, the “Médaille du Combattant Militaire de la Guerre 1940–1945″ was awarded to all members of the Belgian armed forces and resistance who fought from England during WW2.
This is the “Médaille Commémorative de la Guerre 1940–45″. The crossed sabres denoting combat service in the 1940 campaign or service in the armed resistance. There is an excellent collection belonging to Bill Simpson here.
This is the “Médaille de la Résistance 1940–1945“. It was awarded to all members of the active resistance as well as intelligence operators in occupied areas.
This medal was awarded primarily to officers and men who served during the period 1940-1945 in Belgium’s colonies in the Congo and Rwanda. It was awarded for other service areas like Burma, the Middle East and Madagascar and bars were provided for this service.
Seraing is a Walloon community in Belgium. In 1945 the worthies of the town decided to have this medal struck and passed out to whoever they felt grateful too, mostly war veterans from what my googling tells me.
Kiwi Medals 