France CENTRE DES HAUTES ETUDES DE L' ARMENT SESSION 1971 - 1972

[Kev in Deva]

Hallo Gentlemen

A couple of days ago a Romanian friend of mine gave me this cased table-medal for my Birthday.

It says:

"CENTRE DES HAUTES ETUDES DE L' ARMENT SESSION 1971 - 1972."

It is: 81mm in diameter, and weighs: 299 gram.

On the side is stamped: "1971 Hallmark BRONZE.

He said his father was awarded it on a visit to France, but he was not sure for exactly what!

Can anybody enlighten me?

Kevin in Deva.

[Kev in Deva]

The Case front.

The Case rear.

The Case inner lid.

The case is marked: MONNAIE DE PARIS.

Kevin in Deva.

[iffig]

The Centre des Hautes Etudes de l'Armement depends from the Ecole Militaire in Paris. It has been created as an excellence center for high ranking officers and senior officials. Part of its activity is giving lectures on Armament matters (technical, economical, strategical aspects and so on).

In the early 70's, someone from Romania could have attended lectures in this Centre as as sign of independance of Caucescu regim from Russian brothers ; I guess some important military and/or civil servants from Romania could have been elected to follow a session (more or less : a set of conferences) at the Center (maybe after some arms sales: I remeber France has sold helicopters to Romania in late 60's). They may have been presented such a gift at the end of the session.

See some info (in French) on the Centre (which is still active today):

http://www.defense.gouv.fr/dga/votre_espac...armement_chear/