Huang also took part in the Toulon landing with French troops on August 15 the same year.

"We will never forget that you and other Chinese people stood with us shoulder-to-shoulder when France was facing the most difficult situation during the war," Schuh said in Chinese at the ceremony.

"It is our responsibility to remember this forever," he added.

Huang's face lit up as Schuh presented him with the medal of the Legion d'Honneur, awarded to fewer than 200 Chinese. His family members captured the moment with video cameras.

The father of three made a short speech from his wheelchair, while his nurse held an oxygen mask beside him.

"It was a great honour to join the anti-Nazi war. After more than 60 years, I am still very proud about it," he said.

"It (today's occasion) reminds me of other Chinese naval officers who took part in the operation. The honour is not only for me, it belongs to all of them," Huang added.

The other 23 Chinese officers died in the intervening years.

Huang joined the Navy of the People's Liberation Army in 1949. He moved to Zhejiang in 1958 and taught English at Zhejiang Science and Technology University for seven years before retiring in 1971.