DAK north Africa troops opinions needed

[spooky82]

Hi everyone:

I need a second opinion.

Can anybody confirm me if this medal as original or a repro? More photos available if
necessary.




This medal was awarded to the DAK troops only or all the axis allies?

A lot of Thanks.

Kind regards and happy new year

[Nigel N]

the medal looks fine, its one of the nice early ones in bronze! it was awarded in 1942 to the german troops, but was not meant for the italians themselves!!

[Nigel N]

after looking at the reverse, it looks like theres some corrosion, so it could be a later zinc one, but still nice!!

[fugpaw]

Adding to the comments, it also looks like there is a good chance the ribbon is also original; these are often found with replacement ribbons. I think it is a bronze based version, the "corrosion" is consistent with a bronze - if it were zinc then the corrosion would be different.

Mike

[Nigel N]

Adding to the comments, it also looks like there is a good chance the ribbon is also original; these are often found with replacement ribbons. I think it is a bronze based version, the "corrosion" is consistent with a bronze - if it were zinc then the corrosion would be different.

Mike

i did think to start with it was bronze, but the one ive got shows no corrosion, thats what i was comparing it to, having said that, zinc ones ive seen have looked awful! so i think we will stick with bronze!!!

[fugpaw]

i did think to start with it was bronze, but the one ive got shows no corrosion, thats what i was comparing it to, having said that, zinc ones ive seen have looked awful! so i think we will stick with bronze!!!

Nigel - the green type corrosion usually in my experience occurs on metals that have a copper content - thus this points me in the direction of Bronze. On many of the zinc examples much of the finish tends to get absorbed, if corrosion occurs it tends to be of the zinc pest i.e. more of a whiting/powdering.

Mike

[Nigel N]

Nigel - the green type corrosion usually in my experience occurs on metals that have a copper content - thus this points me in the direction of Bronze. On many of the zinc examples much of the finish tends to get absorbed, if corrosion occurs it tends to be of the zinc pest i.e. more of a whiting/powdering.

Mike

cheers for that, any idea how many of these were awarded??? would love to know, never seen any figures mentioned in books

[fugpaw]

Nigel - sorry - I have no idea on the number issued.

You might be interested to know that the wearing of the Italo-German campaign medal by German troops was banned on 8 April 1944 by a German Army order - this was as a result of Italy withdrawing from the war.

There's a small discussion thread on these medals that might be of interest -

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...=299568&page=2

Mike

[Nigel N]

Nigel - sorry - I have no idea on the number issued.

You might be interested to know that the wearing of the Italo-German campaign medal by German troops was banned on 8 April 1944 by a German Army order - this was as a result of Italy withdrawing from the war.

There's a small discussion thread on these medals that might be of interest -

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...=299568&page=2

Mike

thanks for that mike, i always thought this an interesting and underated medal, the bronze ones by lorioli are well made!!

[spooky82]

thanks to all, for the info.