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The Order of the Republic

The Order of the Republic is the highest order of honor of the People’s Republic of China. It was established on 29 September 2019.

The Order of the Republic is the highest order of honor of the People’s Republic of China. It was established on 1 January 2016 and first awarded on 29 September 2019.

The Order is awarded for great contributions to the defense of the country and outstanding service to Chinese society. Eligible recipients are military and civilians of Chinese nationality. The Order of the Republic was established by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee.

For 2019, eight people were recommended. This included researchers who participated in the development of China’s first-generation nuclear submarine. For 2020, the recognition of an exemplary figure covered outstanding contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The recipients so far have been:

2019
  • Yu Min (于敏)
  • Shen Jilan (申纪兰)
  • Sun Jiadong (孙家栋)
  • Li Yannian (李延年)
  • Zhang Fuqing (张富清)
  • Yuan Longping (袁隆平)
  • Huang Xuhua (黄旭华)
  • Tu Youyou (屠呦呦)
2020
  • Zhong Nanshan (钟南山)

The Order of the Republic Design

The medal is a five-pointed star in gold and red colors.

The obverse features the Yellow River, the Tangtye River, mountain peaks, and the peony flower. The medal hangs from a chain made of Chinese knots, the handicraft ruyi, orchids, andother elements. It’s decorated with filigree inlays and enamels.

The Medal for the War of Liberation

The Medal for the War of Liberation is an Italian medal established in 1945 and awarded for minimum 3 months service after September 1943.

The Medal for the War of Liberation was instituted on 21 April 1945 and awarded to personnel of the Italian armed forces, frontier guards, Red Cross, and certain categories of civilians, for a minimum 3 months service after 9 September 1943, excluding service in the “Social Italian Republic”.

The medal was awarded to Italian forces who served in operations against the German occupational army in Italy, post the capitulation and collapse of the Mussolini Fascist regime.

The award was first instituted as a ribbon and from 6 May 1959 as a medal.

The Medal for the War of Liberation Design

The ribbon can carry bars for each year of service: 1943, 1944, 1945, and possibly 1946. The latter year would refer to services in defusing bombs, mine clearance, etc. but seems never to have been effectively awarded or manufactured.

The Medal for Volunteers of the War 1940-45

The Medal for Volunteers of the War 1940-45 was instituted on 21 April 1948 and awarded to those that volunteered for the Second World War.

The Medal for Volunteers of the War 1940-45 (or Volontario di Guerra 1940-45 in Italian) was instituted on 21 April 1948.

This medal, with a different ribbon and referred to as The Merit Medal for Crossing Enemy Lines after 8 September 1943, was also awarded to those that crossed enemy lines into Allied liberated territory before 8 September 1943 and put themselves at the disposal of the Italian National Government.

The Medal for Volunteers of the War 1940-45 Design

The official medal’s reverse has the inscription “VOLONTARIO DI GVERRA MCMXL-MCMXLV“. A type with the years in Arabic figures has also been reported to exist.

This medal can be found on different ribbons. The original decree stipulates the claret ribbon as for the WW1 Volunteer’s Medal but two other ribbons are known to exist (although they are considered unofficial). Both are purple, one with a center of four green and three red stripes, the other with three green and two red stripes in the middle. They both incorporate the War Commemorative Medal’s color scheme.

The National Security Voluntary Militia’s Long Service Cross

The National Security Voluntary Militia’s Long Service Cross was established in 1933 and awarded for 10 ys of good services in the militia.

The National Security Voluntary Militia’s Long Service Cross (or Milizia Volontaria per la Sicurezza Nazionale in Italian) is a medal established in Italy on 23 January 1933 by royal decree and awarded for 10 years of good services within the militia.

In 1943, it became necessary to also create a decoration for 20 years service. Due to the critical wartime situation, the decision was made to not strike a new cross with a 20 year reverse but instead to institute a ribbon device. This device, a Roman swords colored red, was instituted on 28 January 1943.

The National Security Voluntary Militia's Long Service Cross Design

The medal is a cross-pathée with fasces between the arms. It’s struck in bronze and measures 38 mm wide by 42.3 mm high. The suspension is a laterally-pierced ball.

The obverse shows the initials ‘MVSN’ for the Milizia Volontaria per la Sicurezza Nazionale (National Security Volunteer Militia), popularly referred to at the ‘Blackshirts’.

The reverse has the inscription “DIECI / ANNI” (Ten Years).

The Gold Medal of Military Valor

Time Period: Pre World War I, The Great War, Second World War
Institution: 21 May 1793
Country: Italy

The Gold Medal of Military Valour (or Medaglia d’oro al valor militare in Italian) is a medal established on 21 May 1793 by King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia for deeds of outstanding gallantry in war by junior officers and soldiers.

On 14 August 1815, Victor Emmanuel I of Sardinia replaced it with the Military Order of Savoy. On 26 March 1833, Charles Albert of Sardinia revived it and added to it the Silver and Bronze medals.

With the proclamation of the Republic on 2 June 1946, the coat of arms of the House of Savoy was replaced with the emblem of the Italian Republic. 

For actions performed by individuals during World War I, the Gold Medal was awarded some 368 times, as well as 37 times to military units, and once to the Unknown Soldier. Only four of the individual awards went to foreigners, one of these being Czar Nicholas II of Russia. The other three were for acts of gallantry in which the recipient was killed in action or died from his injuries (the Frenchmen John O’Byrne and Roland Morillot, and the American Coleman deWitt). 

During World War II the medal was awarded to soldiers of the Royal Italian Army; after these forces were reorganized following the Armistice with Italy in 1943, it was awarded to members of the Allies-supporting Italian Co-Belligerent forces. The Axis-affiliated Italian Social Republic created another design of the medal, with a Gladius replacing the arms of Savoy, for members of the Esercito Nazionale Repubblicano from 1943 to 1945. This version of the award was not given recognition by the postwar Italian government.

The Gold Medal for Military Valor is still awarded by the Italian state, and it, along with Silver and Bronze medals for Military Valor as well as the War Cross of Military Valor (which can only be awarded in time of war) was established by the Royal Decree of 4 November 1932.

The Gold Medal of Military Valor Design

The obverse of the medal displays the coat of arms of Savoy with laurel branches, the royal crown, and the words “For Military Valor“. On the reverse are two laurel branches enclosing the name of the decorated soldier, and the place and date of the action.

The World War I Gold Medal Commemorative

The World War I Gold Medal Commemorative Medal was instituted by the President of the Republic of Italy on the 50th Anniversary of Victory.

The World War I Gold Medal Commemorative Medal (or Medaglia-ricordo in oro della I Guerra Mondiale in Italian) was an award instituted by the President of the Republic of Italy on the 50th Anniversary of Victory.

The medal was awarded in 1968 to all veterans of World War I (or of previous conflicts) who served in arms for at least 6 months before 2.8.1920.

The World War I Gold Medal Commemorative Design

The medal is small, round, and struck in solid gold. It weighs 5 grams and has a mirror finish.

The obverse bears a small star and an “Adrian” helmet over a laurel and oak wreath. On the reverse is the inscription “50° ANNIVERSARIO DELLA VITTORIA 1918 1968” (“50th Anniversary of the Victory – 1918 1968).

The ribbon is a reduced-size one, with twelve narrow vertical stripes in green-white-red repeated four times.

The Commemorative East Balkan Expeditionary Corps Cross

The Orient Balkan Cross was an unofficial medal awarded to the expeditionary corps that fought in the Balkans from 1914 to 1919.

The Orient Balkan Cross (or Croce Commemorativa del Corpo di Spedizione dell’Oriente Balcanico in Italian) was an unofficial medal awarded to the expeditionary corps that had taken part in war operations in the Balkans (Albania and Macedonia) from 1914 to 1919, during the First World War.

The medal was advertised on nr. 8 of the Domenica del Corriere on 23 March 1924, with an announcement that specified that the first specimens would be offered in homage to the king, to generals Diaz and Cadorna and to all general officers who had had a command in Albania and Macedonia. The cross was put up for sale, equipped with a special ribbon, for the benefit of the “National Union of Veterans East Balkan”, Turin, via S. Tomaso, 6.

The Commemorative East Balkan Expeditionary Corps Cross Design

The medal was designed by the painter Adolfo Caly, and advertised in the popular magazine “Domenica del Corriere” and coined by the Fassino firm of Turin. The shape is a Greek cross and it was struck in gilded bronze. The ends of the arms are crenelated and intersected by a ribbon with eyelets and corners.

The obverse has a central medallion with golden beads and a representation of a mosque with a minaret in and orange enameled background. The arms of the cross have blue enamel and black and white borders around the cross arms.

The reverse has no enamels and bears the inscription “ORIENTE BALCANICO / 1914 = 1919 / ALBANIA = MACEDONIA”. Some versions have a trademark on the lower arm.

The ribbon has a black central stripe measuring one-third of the overall width, flanked on both sides by five narrow stripes in red-orange-blue-orange-red.

The Italian Army Commemorative Crosses 1915-1018

The Italian Army Crosses 1915-1018 were a series of crosses awarded to specific members of the Army for their participation in WW1.

The Italian Army Crosses 1915-1018 were awarded after the war to members of specific Italian Armies for their participation in the Great War. The crosses were instituted in 1924 and awarded to various Italian units.

While awarded by the army, recipients often had to purchase the medal itself. Some variations in the crosses exist, but the basic designs remained fairly consistent. The different cross designs were created by different makers and feature various designs.

The Italian Army Crosses 1915-1018 Design

The medals are shaped like a cross and measure approximately 33 mm wide by 44.5 mm high. They were struck in silver or bronze gilt. Some were decorated with enamels.

The Medal for Mothers and Widows of the Fallen

Time Period: The Great War, Second World War

Institution: 24 May 1919
Country: Italy

The Medal for Mothers and Widows of the Fallen (or Medaglia di Madri e Vedove Dei Caduti in Italian) is an Italian medal instituted on 24 May 1919 (with Royal decree no. 800 of 1919) as a token of national gratitude to Italian mothers who had lost one or more children during the First World War.

Both legitimate and natural mothers who had recognized the fallen son were entitled to the badge, but only if it was indubitable that the soldier had fallen in combat or as a result of injuries sustained in combat. It was granted by the Ministry of War or the Navy, depending on whether the fallen soldier was part of the land or sea army.

The medal was established by the Kingdom of Italy and reconfirmed by the Italian Republic for the Second World War. A similar recognition was established in 1887 for the mothers of the fallen of the Battle of Dogali. The recognition was also extended to the African Campaign, the Spanish Campaign, thje Expedition to Albania, The 1940/43 War, and WW2.

The Medal for Mothers and Widows of the Fallen Design

The medal is circular and could be cast in bronze of the guns taken from the enemy. It was designed by G. Prini and measures 32 mm in diameter.

The obverse shows an allegorical design of a woman offering a laurel wreath to a dying soldier while another woman stands in the background. The reverse is bears the inscription “IL FIGLI / CHE TI NACQVE / DAL DOLORE / TI RINASCE “O BEATA” / NELLA GLORIA / E IL VIVO EROE / “PIENA DI GRAZIA ” / E TECO” (“The son which was born out of you in pain, is reborn to you, o blessed one, full of glory and he lives as a hero. With gratitude“).

There are several variants produced by private industries. Some of these show, under the left arm of the fallen, the name of the model maker “G. PRINI – MOD.” and the name of the manufacturer: Sacchini, S. Johnson or Lorioli and Castelli.

The ribbon is dark grey, with thin green, white, and red stripes in the center and measures 37 mm wide. A ministerial circular dated March 23, 1921 established that each fallen child was represented by an equivalent number of bronze crowns on the ribbon.

The Medal for the War Volunteer 1915-1918

The Medal for the War Volunteer 1915-1918 is an Italian medal instituted in 1924 and awarded to Italian armed volunteers of the Great War.

The Medal for the War Volunteer 1915-1918 (or Medaglia di Volontario di Guerra 1915-1918 in Italian) is an Italian medal instituted on 24 May 1924 and awarded to those who entered the Italian armed volunteer forces during WW1. It was established with Royal Decree n. 1163 by the Italian government.

The medal was awarded to those who had participated in the war operations in a way worthy of commendation and who gave proof of belonging to one of the following categories:

  1. Former reformers who spontaneously enlisted as officers, non-commissioned officers or troop soldiers or of the CRE at least one month before the date of the decree that would have called them for a review visit;
  2. Soldiers who, declared unsuitable for war service due to injuries sustained in the war or due to infirmities, spontaneously returned to be part of the operating army or navy;
  3. Second and third category military personnel who had spontaneously taken up military service as officers, non-commissioned officers or militaries of the troop or the CRE at least four months before the date of the decree calling their class or category and actually were incorporated into the operating army or navy before the said recall;
  4. Spontaneously enrolled at least four months before being called to visit before the conscript councils and actually left to be incorporated into the army or navy operating before the date on which they would normally have passed the visit;
  5. Exempted by law from military service who, at least five months before November 4, 1918, spontaneously renounced the dispensation to be incorporated into the operating army or navy;

The fallen, the wounded in combat and those decorated with the military Order of Savoy or the value for war actions carried out during the voluntary service, were entitled to the medal even if the service itself had started within a time limit lower than those indicated above. With art. 4 of the Royal Decree n. 1529 of 1925 merit was also granted to maritime members who had sailed on merchant steamers without having military service obligations and who had obtained the War Merit Cross or were in the conditions to obtain it. With RD n. 2127 of 1925, the eligibility criteria were regulated in a more detailed manner and the exclusion from the granting of those who, despite possessing the qualifications, were deemed, in the opinion of the competent issuing authorities, unworthy to boast of them for having in the meantime he received criminal convictions or for serious moral reasons.

The same medal was later issued for the Second World War and for a number of colonial wars. It was abolished in 2010.

The Medal for the War Volunteer 1915-1918 Design

The medal is circular. The obverse depicts the crowned head of “Italia” and the inscription “PER L’ITALIA” (or “For Italy“). The reverse bears a naked warrior bearing a shield and a veiled woman behind him. Around the rim of the medal is the inscription “VOLONTARIO DI GVERRA MCMXV-MCMXVIII” (“War volunteer” and the dates of the war).

The WW2 version of the medal has the dates 1936-1939 in Roman figures in the obverse, and the letters A.O.I (Africa Orientale Italiana, Italian East Africa) on the reverse. Many medals had no dates inscribed on them.

The ribbon is plain red.