Glossary Term: Statute “Armed Resistance Fighter”

A statute created in Belgium in September 1945. Applicants had to prove membership in a resistance organisation or individual resistance activity. The period of resistance activity was recognised as active military service, and the leaders of the resistance movements were entitled to higher military ranks. By 1950, 140,000 medals were awarded to resistance fighters, with an actual membership in the resistance organisations of 70,000 people.