Italo / German campaign medal

[Al P]

I have a single ribbon bar with the green to the left side ( as in the left example above). Not that it means anything, but that is also the order on the Italian flag.

As for what is front or back, I would put the guys wrestling the gator as the front, but I am not 100%.

Al

[Darrell]

The obverse is the side with the figures

[Scott C.]

Thanks gentlemen. After a bit more study, I found John Angolia also claimed the aligator was on the obverse with the black stripe on the viewer's left. I like the idea of the green stripe on the left to match the Italian flag. However, further searching seems to indicate any combination of medal and ribbon side was acceptable - reference the pictures below.

Thanks again.

Scott

Photo credits: Brian R, Chris Taylor, Ron R, Tyanacek, James Clark, Aval K, and Dave J.

[J,Helsel]

authorized??

I have a bronze one but I cant get to it right now to compare. But my question is this After the Italions defeat and mussolini's murder, I thought hitler forbid the wear of this medal, and it was to be destroyed. So the medal bars should of had these removed right?

[Al P]

Yes, by regulation they should have been removed.

But at that point in the war I think people had more important things to do than rush home to change their bars to regulation. Not too many parades going on where you would need to dig up and wear your full bar.

Al

[Darrell]

But at that point in the war I think people had more important things to do than rush home to change their bars to regulation. Not too many parades going on where you would need to dig up and wear your full bar.

Al

I agree with Al. Remember the time the "ban" came into effect .. 1944 ... not too many momentous occasions to hold parades at that point of the war

[Fabio]

Ribbon colours order

From this very serious and complete italian text, we can say that the ribbon should be lke that: verde (green) bianco (white) rosso (red) bianco (white) nero (black).
Hope it helps
PS You can also see the italia official post war version of the same medal without fascios and svastikas

[Fabio]

Mi medal

By the way, here's mine

[Fabio]

one side

Front side with maker and desiger

[Fabio]

other side

Arco di Filene (made by the Air Marshall and Libia Gouvernator Italo Balbo, the worldwide celebrate aviator, killed under friendly fire by Italian Flak in Tobruk in june 1940. That's how we have lost one of the few high officials that could help us lose the war with dignity!) and the axis symbols.
A nice looking medal IMO...

[TerryG]

Good thread! Digressing slightly....

[Don D.]

I always wondered about the symbology on this medal. Thanks for showing that picture.

[Thomas Bendixen]

Hi Everyone

I bought this at a local show as being a fake but I'm not so sure it is. The metal is zink, it has good details, remains of silvering and its larger (31,03 mm oposed to 30,07 mm. wide) than its bronce counterpart.

Any opinions?

Cheers Thomas

[Thomas Bendixen]

1

[Thomas Bendixen]

Where is everybody

Cheers Thomas