Croce di Guerra al Valore Militare

[wrongplanet67]

Here's information in English that I compiled from Italian sources on the Croce di Guerra al Valore Militare as present in this medal bar:

[wrongplanet67]

With Royal Decree (RD) 195 of 7 January 1922 the Croce di Guerra al Valore Militare was established as the 4th grade of the Military Valor Rewards (after the Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals for Military Valor).

The Croce di Guerra al Valore Militare is based on the Croce al Merito di Guerra and is granted for particular acts of personal military valor.

While the Croce al Merito di Guerra, which was established with RD 356 of 10 March 1918, was given to most of the fighters of the First World War, the Italo-Ethiopian war of 1935-36 and the Second World War, it does not presuppose the execution of acts of particular military valor.

The characteristics, blue-white-blue-white-blue ribbon and cross, were exactly those of the Croce al Merito di Guerra, but to distinguish it a Gladius winded with a laurel branch and engraved with the FERT motto on the guard, was applied to the ribbon.

[wrongplanet67]

Croce al Merito di Guerra M1918
Croce di Guerra al Valore Militare M1922
Ribbon of Croce al Merito di Guerra
Ribbon of Croce di Guerra al Valore Militare

[wrongplanet67]

With RD 1480 of 17 October 1941 the cross was partially changed, modifying the wording from "MERITO DI GVERRA" to "CROCE AL VALOR MILITARE". As to further distinguish it from a Croce al Merito di Guerra, the side of the cross with the radiant star was made the obverse.

With RD 1273 of 5 September 1942 the words "CROCE AL VALOR MILITARE" were changed to "AL VALOR MILITARE".

[wrongplanet67]

Croce di Guerra al Valore Militare M1941
Croce di Guerra al Valore Militare M1942
Ribbon of Croce di Guerra al Valore Militare

[wrongplanet67]

With RD 629 of 10 May 1943 the ribbon was made identical to that of the other Rewards for Valor, that is entirely of blue color. Also the FERT gladius was eliminated.

During the period of the RSI (Italian Social Republic 1943-45) a specific model was foreseen (with the RSI eagle instead of the radiant star), but it was never realized because the approval decree was issued on 6-4-1945. Instead available crosses were used from which the royal coat of arms of VE III was abraded or on which an X was engraved, symbol of the Decima Flottiglia MAS (X MAS - 10th Assault Vehicle Flotilla).

[wrongplanet67]

Croce di Guerra al Valore Militare M1943
Croce di Guerra al Valore Militare RSI 1943-1945
Ribbon of M1943 and Italian Social Republic (1943-1945)

[wrongplanet67]

With the Decree of the President of the Republic (DPR) 773 of 8 September 1949 the royal coat of arms was replaced with that of the Italian Republic (R and I).

Croce di Guerra al Valore Militare - Italian Republic
Ribbon of Italian Republic (1949-...)

[wrongplanet67]

There are also a series of subvariants that differ from the aforementioned models due to the shape of the various components (gladius, republican logo, wording).

Sources:
http://www.milistory.net/forum/le-cr...re-vt4402.html
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croce_al_merito_di_guerra
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croce_...valor_militare

[enorepap]

Well done

[wrongplanet67]

Well done

Thanks!