Italo / German campaign medal

[Stijn David]

Hello,


I was wondering howmany types of Italo / German campaign medals are existing ?

I have had the luck to become the friend of a LW Regt " Barenthin " veteran in the recent years who was taken POW in Afrika in 1943 . One of his medals he still had ( because this one was end home before the captivity ) was this Italo / German campaign medal wich I received during this week in the post.

This medal is very nicely made and has the following maker mark " Lorioli Milano " in tiny lettering besides the left feet of the crocodile and incused the name " De Marchis " => this particular medal is very light IMHO : 11 gram ( including the sewn on ribbon )

I will try to post pictures in the next few days but is it possible to show known original variants of this medal ? Im interested in weights, material, etc .. all the info that is possible to get .

Cordial Greeting and thanks for the help

[Stijn David]

Italo / German medal

Hello,



Here is a picture ( altough not the best one ) from my recently received medal, I like the detail on this baby and the spacy look from those soldiers who hold the crocodile

Anyone who can share his piece and eventual variantions from this medal ? + please give weights of this medal ( the german nickname for it was " Sandsturmorden "


Cordial Greetings,

[Frank Heukemes]

Dear Stijn,

Here is my example, same maker as yours. Lorioli is the maker, De Marchis the designer of the medal. It is by far the most common maker of this medal, I have heard about at least another one, but cannot remember the name. Seems all of these were made in Italy.

In also know of a silver variant, some of these are zinkers without finish or with very little finish left, some have a good silver plating that bubbles easily though.

Sorry, no weights available. I do not believe in weights other than the differences that I can feel when the award is in my hands. Don´t even own a scale to be honest.

Cheers, Frank H.

[Frank Heukemes]

reverse

[Frank Heukemes]

maker mark

[Frank Heukemes]

designer mark

[Stijn David]

Italo/ German campaign medal

Hello ,


Thanks for the very nice close ups and pictures of your medal, Mine is different in the following +> the designers name is incused while yours is in pronounced, I can see quite another few minor detail differences between us pieces ( more comment later with pictures ) .

I wil try to make some good scans also of the medal ( front, reverse, and the markings on the medal in question ) .

Anyone wants to join the fun and share some nice pictures ?


Cordial Greetings,

[Frank Heukemes]

Here is a FAKE that doesn´t have the designer´s name at all. Which is btw not necessarily the criterium to see it is a fake, I just KNOW it is one. Maybe originals without designer´s name DO exist.

[Frank Heukemes]

Here is another FAKE with FAKE packet. This time, the fake has a designer´s name but the maker´s name is to the right side of the crocodile:

[Stijn David]

italo / German campaign medals

Hello,


Thanks for showing these fakes => and where do they actually differ in comparison towards each other ? ( only the maker mark ? the metal used ? ) and in comparison towards original known pieces ?


Cordial Greetings,

[Frank Heukemes]

These two fakes come from the same source and from the pics I cannot see more differences than the maker/designer logos.

The metal is strange though and should make one suspicious at once. As I said, the silver ones are either really zinky (medium to dark grey, dull) or with a silver plated finish that bubbles and lifts off in places. These fakes seem to have no finish at all and seem to be made of a white base metal much used with modern fakes.

Cheers, Frank H.

[Brian R]

Here is an example of this medal that I used to own (I sold it a while ago as I'm trying to limit my campaign medals to medalbar groups). The pictures are small showing very little detail. It was, however, from the firm of " Lorioli Milano ". I don't really have any specific details but I just wanted to show it as it is yet another example from this maker.

Brian

[Brian R]

Reverse...

[Brian R]

A few weeks ago I was LUCKY enough to get this bar from our ol' friend in Hamburg. All the medals on this bar are mint (the ek has been repainted however). The detail of the Italo-German medal is crisp. It is also from Lorioli Milano. I will try to produced detailed pics of the medal when I get a chance.

Brian

[ERIC S.]

My Piece

Hi Frank and Stijn,
I recognize Franks as being the version in zinc with a bronze finish - The most highly produced version by Lorioli. The second manufacturer that escapes you Frank is SONS OF MILAN. I do not have an example by them sorry to say, just Lorioli.
My medal is the early manufactured 1942 issue in solid bronze.
This medal depicts 2 armoured knights ( Italy and Germany )closing the jaws ( the Suez Canal ) of a crocodile ( the British Empire ) The flip side shows the Arco dei Feleni, or marble arch, a monument erected on the Via Balbia, the coastal road between the provinces of Tripolitania and Cyrenaica, to celebrate early Fascist victories. Around this were the symbols of Italy and Germany and below the arch is the knot of the House Of Savoy. It was an unofficial award, so no regulations were prescribed for its wear. It was intended for wear only by German troops, not Italians. I don't know why!