Original Item. Only One Available. This is an exceptionally interesting seven-decoration miniature medal bar assembled for a highly decorated Belgian recipient whose honors reflect WWII escape or resistance-related service together with substantial postwar recognition from several Allied and European nations. The group combines decorations from Belgium, France, the Netherlands, the United States, Luxembourg, and Portugal, all professionally mounted together on a long gilt-metal pin bar for formal wear.

From left to right, the bar consists of:

• Belgium – Order of Leopold, enameled miniature beneath the Belgian royal crown, suspended from its purple ribbon with rosette.
• Belgium – Escapees’ Cross 1940–1945 (Croix des Évadés / Kruis der Ontsnapten), suspended from its distinctive green-and-black striped ribbon.
• France – Légion d’honneur, white-enameled five-armed star within green laurel and oak foliage, suspended from the red ribbon with a rosette and metallic grade device.
• Netherlands – Order of Orange-Nassau, crowned blue-and-white enameled cross suspended from the characteristic orange, white, and blue ribbon with a grade device.
• United States – Medal of Freedom, bronze circular medal suspended from the red ribbon with four narrow white stripes and fitted with a palm device.
• Luxembourg – Order of the Oak Crown, white-enameled cross surrounded by gilt oak foliage, with green central medallion, suspended from the yellow-and-green ribbon with a grade device.
• Portugal – Military Order of Christ, the distinctive red enameled Cross of Christ charged with a white inner cross, suspended from a red ribbon with rosette and metallic grade device.

The miniature decorations retain their individual suspension rings and are neatly arranged beneath a narrow brass-colored mounting bar. The reverse incorporates the original long pin and pointed catch arrangement. Also included is the fitted burgundy leather-covered presentation and storage case, lined in cream-colored velvet and satin. The interior of the lid is retailer marked ARTHUS BERTRAND / PARIS, the long-established French maker and supplier of orders and decorations.

The group remains in very good overall condition, with attractive age and handling wear throughout. The enamel decoration remains generally strong and colorful, while the exposed metal surfaces display natural toning and patination. The ribbons retain particularly vivid coloration, with localized age toning, minor fraying, and handling wear. The case shows exterior scuffing and finish loss from storage, while its pale interior lining has developed age discoloration and staining. The complete bar remains visually impressive and well suited to careful display.

Historical Context

The most historically revealing decoration in the group is the Belgian Croix des Évadés 1940–1945, or Escapees’ Cross. Created by the Belgian government in exile in London on February 25, 1944, it was intended to recognize Belgians who escaped from occupied territory, enemy imprisonment, or other dangerous wartime circumstances and then continued contributing to the struggle against Germany. Qualification required more than the act of escape itself: recipients generally had to demonstrate subsequent patriotic activity, such as joining a resistance organization, suffering imprisonment for patriotic action, or traveling clandestinely in order to continue the Allied war effort.

Its design directly expresses that purpose. The bronze cross bears a Belgian lion superimposed upon prison bars, while the green ribbon is marked by black stripes. The decoration therefore gives this miniature bar a particularly important wartime foundation and indicates that its recipient belonged to the comparatively limited body of Belgian men and women formally recognized for escape and continued resistance or Allied service.

Placed first on the bar is Belgium's Order of Leopold, the kingdom's senior national order. Established in 1832, shortly after Belgian independence, it was awarded for distinguished military, civil, and public service. The purple ribbon and crowned white cross with green wreath and Belgian lion are immediately recognizable features of the order. The rosette on this miniature indicates an elevated grade rather than the basic knightly class. Its position before the Escapees’ Cross is also appropriate to the precedence normally accorded Belgium's national orders.

The French Légion d’honneur represents one of the most important foreign honors in the grouping. Founded in 1802, it became France's principal national order and could be awarded for exceptional military or civil service. Its white-enameled star, central portrait medallion, and surrounding oak and laurel foliage remained defining elements of the decoration through successive French governments. The red ribbon incorporates a rosette and metallic grade device, indicating a grade above the basic Chevalier level. For an Allied foreign recipient connected with clandestine wartime service, such a decoration could recognize assistance rendered to France, the French population, resistance organizations, escaping Allied personnel, or the broader liberation effort.

The Dutch Order of Orange-Nassau adds another significant Allied national honor. Established in 1892, the order was used to recognize distinguished service to Dutch society and the Dutch state and could also be conferred upon foreign nationals. During and after WWII, foreign military personnel, resistance workers, intelligence personnel, escape-line organizers, and others who had rendered important services to the Netherlands could receive Dutch decorations. The miniature here retains the crowned cross and the order's recognizable orange-centered ribbon bordered in white and blue.

Perhaps the most directly international wartime decoration on the bar is the original U.S. Medal of Freedom. This should not be confused with the later Presidential Medal of Freedom. President Harry S. Truman established the wartime Medal of Freedom by Executive Order 9586 on July 6, 1945. It was intended to honor civilians whose meritorious acts or services had materially aided the United States or nations fighting alongside it during the war.

Foreign recipients could receive the Medal of Freedom in graded form, indicated by gold, silver, or bronze palm devices, with an additional unpalmed level beneath them. Such awards were particularly associated with civilians and foreign nationals whose intelligence work, clandestine operations, resistance activity, escape-and-evasion assistance, or other services directly supported the Allied war effort. The miniature in this group retains its palm device prominently across the distinctive red ribbon with four narrow white stripes.

This combination of the Belgian Escapees’ Cross and the American Medal of Freedom is especially meaningful. The former recognized escape followed by demonstrable patriotic action on behalf of Belgium, while the latter recognized meritorious civilian service aiding the United States or its wartime allies. Together they place the core of the recipient's decorated service firmly within the multinational Allied struggle in occupied Europe.

The Order of the Oak Crown was established in 1841 by Grand Duke William II and became one of Luxembourg's principal orders. Its insignia incorporates a white cross, green central medallion, and oak foliage, with a yellow ribbon bearing green stripes. Luxembourg suffered German occupation from 1940 until its liberation, and postwar decorations played an important role in recognizing military, diplomatic, governmental, and other distinguished service connected with the Grand Duchy and its allies.

Completing the group is Portugal's Military Order of Christ, descended from the much older Portuguese Order of Christ and retained by the modern Portuguese state as a national order of merit. Its emblem preserves the famous red Cross of Christ charged with a smaller white cross, one of Portugal's most recognizable historical symbols. In the modern honors system, the order has been used for distinguished service to the Portuguese state, including significant diplomatic and international service. The red rosette and metallic device incorporated into the miniature ribbon indicate an elevated grade within the order.

The presence of several national orders alongside decorations specifically rooted in WWII escape and Allied service suggests a recipient whose distinguished career extended beyond the immediate wartime period. The Escapees’ Cross and Medal of Freedom form the clearest wartime nucleus, while the French, Dutch, Luxembourgish, Portuguese, and Belgian orders reflect a much broader pattern of international recognition. Mounted together as miniatures and retained in their Arthus Bertrand Paris case, the seven decorations form a remarkably compact record of wartime service and later European honors.