Mort pour la France

The term is defined in L.488 to L.492 (bis) of the Code of Military Disability Pensions and War Victims.^[1] It applied to members of the French military forces who died in action or from an injury or an illness contracted during service during the First and Second World Wars, the Indochina and Algeria Wars, and fighting in Morocco and the Tunisian War of Independence, as well as to civilians killed during these conflicts. Both French citizens and volunteers of other citizenship are eligible to be honored.

The words "Mort pour la France" are recorded on the death certificate.

The status is awarded by

• minister responsible for veterans and victims of war, or
• minister responsible for the merchant marine, or
• state minister responsible for national defense.

Additionally the diploma «Aux morts de la grande guerre, la patrie reconnaissante» is awarded to the family of

• military men of the land or naval forces, who died during the First World War, or
• military men of the land, naval or air forces, or members of Free France / Fighting France (Forces françaises libres, FFL / Forces françaises combattantes, FFC), the French Forces of the Interior (Forces françaises de l'Intérieur, FFI), or the French Resistance, who died during the Second World War.

This diploma is awarded by the minister responsible for veterans and war victims.

French copyright law gives a special 30 years extension of copyright to creative artists declared "Mort pour la France" over the usual 70 years post mortem (article L. 123-10).^[2][3][4][5]

• List of French villages destroyed in World War I