Five French communes are Companions of the Liberation. The Order of Liberation is “intended to reward civilian and military communities or individuals who distinguish themselves in efforts to liberate France and the French Empire”.

Paris, whose quote reads: "Capital faithful to itself and to France", received the Cross of Liberation on March 24, 1945.

The village of Vassieux-en-Vercors received the Cross of the Liberation on August 4, 1945. 72 of its inhabitants were massacred and all of its houses burned by a ruthless enemy.

Île de Sein receives the Cross of Liberation on January 1. In June 1940, almost all of the men of fighting age chose to join the Free French Forces in England.

Eighteen military units are Companions of the Liberation. Nine were in the Army, six in the Air force and three in the Navy of the Free French Forces. They received the Cross of Liberation for their collective commitment from the early days of Free France and for their outstanding acts in combat.

Army units began to form following the appeal of 18 June 1940. These were mainly simple battalions or even simple companies, which, as the territories rallied and new volunteers came in, were gradually transformed into regiments.

Free France's naval arm – the Free French Naval Forces (FAFL) – was created on 1 July 1940. For exceptional feats in action, three of its units, two vessels and the First Regiment of Fusiliers Marins received the Cross of Liberation.

The Museum of the Order of Liberation is dedicated to the order founded by General de Gaulle during World War II and to the Companions of the Order of Liberation.

The Museum of The Order of the Liberation draws on the expertise of its scientific council, composed of 9 members appointed by the National Delegate. Its Chair, Christine Levisse-Touzé, was appointed by order of Florence Parly, Minister of the French Armed Forces (December 4, 2017).

The Museum of the Order of Liberation houses a library and research centre allowing the general public to come in by appointment and peruse individual files held about the Companions of the Liberation and French Resistance Medal recipients, as well as over 6,000 publications and 30,000 photographs.