Medal for Prisoner of War 1940-1945

The large model of the Prisoner of War Decoration 1940–1945 is an official Belgian award created after the Second World War to honour Belgian soldiers who were captured by the German occupier and held as prisoners of war.

The round medal, made of bronze-coloured metal, features on the obverse an upright sword placed on a cross, encircled by a ring of barbed wire – a strong symbol of captivity. The years 1940 and 1945 are inscribed on either side of the sword. The medal is topped with a royal crown, representing the Belgian state.

The large model of the Prisoner of War Decoration 1940–1945 is worn on a black moiré ribbon with red and yellow stripes at each side, reflecting the national colours and the suffering endured by the prisoners of war.