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The Allied Victory Medal (Italy)

The Allied Victory Medal (Medaglia interalleata della vittoria) was the Italian variant of the Victory Medal of other nations.

The Allied Victory Medal (or Medaglia interalleata della vittoria, or Medaglia della vittoria commemorativa della grande guerra per la civiltà in Italian) was the Italian variant of the Victory Medal of other nations.

The Allied Victory Medal was established by royal decree number 1918 on 16 December 1920, and was awarded to all who had been given the “fatiche di guerra” distinction before, on 21 May 1916. It was also given to those who had served for four months in an area under the jurisdiction of the armed forces and who had been mobilized and directly worked with the operational army.

The Italy Inter-Allied Victory Medal Design

The Victory Medal measures 36 millimeters (1.4 in) in diameter and its obverse was designed by William McMillan. The design and ribbon was adopted by Great Britain, Belgium, Brazil, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Romania, Siam, Union of South Africa and the USA.

Each allied nation would design a ‘Victory Medal’ for award to their own nationals, all issues having certain common features, including a winged figure of victory on the obverse and the same ribbon.

The Italian medal’s design was done via public competition, which was won by Gaetano Orsolini. His design features the ‘Victory on a triumphal chariot, with the torch of liberty, drawn by four yoked lions’.

The obverse of the medal shows the winged, full-length, full-front, figure of ‘Victory‘ with her left arm extended and holding a palm branch in her right hand.

The 39 millimeters (1.5 in) wide watered ribbon has an iridescent color scheme, with the violet moving through to a central red stripe where both schemes meet. It attaches to the medal through a ring suspender. The recipient’s name, rank, service number and unit were impressed on the edge of the medal. The name of the regiment or corps was omitted on medals awarded to Army officers.

All the Inter-Allied Victory Medal Variations

Although each country designed its own version of the Inter-Allied Victory Medal, all of them shared some common elements, such as a winged victory figure on the obverse and a similar ribbon with rainbow colors symbolizing unity among the Allies. Here are the versions for all countries:

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The Distinguished Service Medal

The Distinguished Service Medal is a United States Army military award given for exceptionally meritorious service to the Government.

  • Time Period: The Great War
  • Institution: January 2, 1918
  • Country: United States

The Distinguished Service Medal is a United States Army military award given to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States military, has distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great responsibility. The performance must be clearly exceptional.

The Distinguished Service Medal is one of the highest military decorations awarded by the United States Armed Forces. It is typically bestowed upon high-ranking military officers, senior government officials, and individuals who have made exceptional achievements in their respective fields.

The Distinguished Service Medal represents the highest recognition for extraordinary service and dedication to the nation. 

The Distinguished Service Medal Design

The medal measures 1 ½ inches in diameter and bears the inscription “FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MCMXVIII”.

The obverse of the Distinguished Service Medal shows the Coat of Arms of the United States in gold surrounded by a circle of Dark Blue enamel. On the reverse is a scroll for the engraved name of the recipient upon a trophy of flags and weapons.

More than 2,000 awards were made during World War I.

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The Army of Occupation of Germany Medal

The Army of Occupation of Germany Medal is a U.S. service medal created in 1941 to recognize military members who fought in WW1.

The Army of Occupation of Germany Medal is a United States military service medal created by Congress on November 21, 1941 to recognize members of the United States military who served in the European occupation force following the close of World War I. The decoration was awarded for honorable service (occupation garrison duty) in Germany or Austria-Hungary between 12 November 1918 and 11 July 1923.

The first Army of Occupation of Germany Medal was presented to General of the Armies Pershing, with retroactive presentations made to any service member upon application to the United States War Department. While the obverse includes the dates of the U.S. Occupation of Germany, the three stars on the reverse symbolize the Third Army, which comprised the occupation forces of Germany.

The medal was established by Public Law 322, 77th Congress on 21 November 1941, and announced in War Department Bulletin 34, dated 10 December 1941, and War Department Circular 176 dated 6 June 1942.

The Army of Occupation of Germany Medal Design

The medal is struck in Bronze and measures 1 ¼ inches in diameter. It was designed by Mr. T. A. Rovelstad, Heraldic Division, Office of the Quartermaster General, in June 1942, and was approved by the Secretary of War on 8 July 1942.

The obverse shows the profile of General John J. Pershing encircled by four stars indicating his insignia of grade as Commanding General of the Field Forces. In the lower-left is the inscription “GENERAL JOHN J. PERSHING” and on the right is a laurel wreath superimposed by a sword with the dates “1918” and “1923” enclosed by the wreath.

The reverse bears the American eagle perched with outspread wings standing on the Castle Ehrenbreitstein, encircled by the words “U.S. ARMY OF OCCUPATION OF GERMANY” and three stars at the bottom of the medal.

The ribbon included initially a wavy blue edge stripe to signify the Rhine River, but this design proved impractical to mass-produce and was later changed to a straight line. It’s 1 3/8 inches in width and consists of the following stripes: 1/16 inch Ultramarine Blue 67118; 1/16 inch Scarlet 67111; 3/16 inch White 67101; ¾ inch Black 67138 (center); 3/16 inch White; 1/16 inch Scarlet and 1/16 inch Ultramarine Blue.

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The Honor Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (Hindenburg Cross)

The Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 or Hindenburg Cross was established by Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg after WW1.

The Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (or Das Ehrenkreuz des Weltkriegs 1914/1918 in german) was established by Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg, President of the German Republic, in 1934. The medal is commonly and incorrectly known as the Hindenburg Cross, and it commemorates service of the German people during the First World War.

This was Germany’s first official service medal for soldiers of Imperial Germany who had taken part in the war.

The Honour Cross was awarded in three forms: With swords, for front-line veterans, without swords, for non-combatant veterans; and without swords for surviving widows and parents of fallen participants in the war.

The Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 Design

The medal awarded to combatants displays a laurel wreath encircling a medallion on the obverse, with the dates “1914 1918” and crossed swords between the arms. The reverse side is plain, and bears only the manufacturer’s logo.

The Honour Cross for non-combatants has no swords and a wreath of oak leaves, and both medals were made of bronze. A total of 8,041,414 medals were awarded.

The Wound Badge (1918)

The Wound Badge (Verwundetenabzeichen) is a military decoration awarded to wounded or frostbitten soldiers during World War I.

The Wound Badge (or Verwundetenabzeichen in German) is a military decoration initially awarded to wounded or frostbitten soldiers of the Imperial German Army during World War I and first promulgated by Wilhelm II, German Emperor on 3 March 1918.

The badge was a tangible acknowledgment of the physical sacrifices made by soldiers. By awarding the Wound Badge, the German military aimed to honor those who had been injured while performing their duties on the battlefield.

Given the stringent criteria, obtaining a Wound Badge required the soldier to have been in active combat and sustained verifiable injuries directly from enemy action. For the higher classes of the badge (silver and gold), multiple wounds were required. Surviving and continuing to fight after receiving multiple serious injuries was a testament to the soldier’s resilience and the harsh conditions of the war.

The Wound Badge Classes and Criteria for Awarding

The badge had three classes:

  • Black (3rd class, representing Iron), awarded for those wounded once or twice by hostile action;
  • Silver (2nd class) for being wounded three or four times; and
  • Gold (1st class, could be awarded posthumously) for five or more times wounded.

To be eligible for the Wound Badge, a soldier had to sustain injuries in combat or as a result of hostile action. This included:

  • Gunshot wounds
  • Shrapnel injuries
  • Chemical burns from gas attacks
  • Severe frostbite injuries
  • Injuries from close combat

The injuries had to be verified and documented by medical personnel. This often involved official medical reports and the approval of the soldier’s commanding officer. The documentation process ensured that only genuine and significant injuries were recognized. When a severe wound occurred, such as loss of a limb or eyesight, the silver badge was awarded.

The obverse and reverse of the Black WW1 Wound Badge decoration.
The obverse and reverse of the Black WW1 Wound Badge decoration.

The WW1 Wound Badge Design

All Wound Badges were made of pressed steel, brass and zinc, and were worn on the lower left breast of the uniform or tunic.

There were 24 approved manufacturers of the Wound Badge. The first Wound Badge is Black and was stamped from sheet brass, painted semi-matte black with a hollow reverse pin back attachment or of solid construction. From 1942 onwards, steel was used to make the badges (Wound Badge 1945). The Wound Badge in silver was made from silver-plated brass and/or lacquered zinc.

The Wound Badge in Gold was a gilded version of the Wound Badge in Silver. In 1957, a revised version of the Wound Badge was authorized for wear; however, the previous type could still be worn if the swastika were removed (for example by grinding).

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The Orient Campaign Medal

The Orient Campaign Medal was a French military medal awarded for participation in the battles against the Central Powers 1915-1918.

The Orient Campaign Medal (“Médaille commémorative d’Orient” in French) was a French military medal awarded for participation in the battles against the Central Powers by the Allied Eastern Army between 1915 and 1918.

The Orient Campaign Medal was awarded to both military and civilian personnel embarked prior to 11 November 1918 for service with the French Army of the Orient; to French personnel who had served in the headquarters staff of the commandant of the Allied Eastern Army and to French sailors that had served East of the 21st degree of longitude in operations related to those of the Allied Eastern Army.

No minimum time of service is mentioned in the award statute.

The Orient Campaign Medal Design

The Orient campaign medal measures 30mm in diameter, is circular and struck from bronze.

The obverse shows the relief image of the “warrior republic” as a left profile of a helmeted woman’s bust. The helmet is adorned by a crown of oak leaves. The relief inscription along the circumference reads “RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE”. The reverse represents both the army and navy, with a relief image of an infantry rifle crossed with a naval anchor below two military banners and lances surmounted. The relief reads “ORIENT” or, on some variants, “HONNEUR ET PATRIE 1915 1918” written on the banners.

The Orient campaign medal hangs from a ribbon through a ring and is adorned by a 24mm in diameter bronze laurel wreath and half crescent. The ribbon is 37mm wide and is light blue with a yellow central 7mm wide and 2mm wide stripes 2mm from the edges.

The Medal of French Gratitude

The Medal of French Gratitude is a French honour medal only awarded to civilians to express gratitude by the French government.

The Medal of French Gratitude (or “Médaille de la Reconnaissance française” in French) is a French honor medal awarded only to civilians as a manner of expressing gratitude by the French government to all those who, without legal or military obligation, had come to the aid of the injured, disabled, refugees, or to those who had performed an act of exceptional dedication in the presence of the enemy during the First World War.

The Medal of French Gratitude was awarded to six French and eight foreign cities.

The Medal of French Gratitude Design

The first model of the Medal of French Gratitude measured 30 mm in diameter, was circular and made of bronze, silver or gilded medal, with a design by the engraver Jules Desbois.

The obverse bears charity personified by France supporting a wounded soldier. On the reverse can be read a circular inscription “RECONNAISSANCE FRANCAISE” with a palm leaf on the right.

The second model of this medal measured 32 mm and was designed by engraver Maurice Delannoy. Its obverse bears a woman wearing a Phrygian cap representing France offering a palm. On the reverse there is a relief inscription RECONNAISSANCE FRANCAISE around a wreath of roses and an escutcheon bearing the initials “RF”.

The medal hags from a 37 mm wide white silk moiré ribbon with tricolour 2 mm wide edge stripes of blue, white and red.

The Medal for Victims of the Invasion

The Medal for Victims of the Invasion was a military decoration awarded to civilians who suffered during the German invasion of France.

The Medal for Victims of the Invasion is a French medal that intended to thank and distinguish the war hostages and persons deported outside of France, who had been imprisoned by the enemy or condemned to forced labour.

At the end of the Great War, it seemed necessary to pay tribute to the courage of the populations of the invaded and occupied regions of France by rewarding them with several medals, among them the Medal for Victims of the Invasion.

Two categories of persons were recognized to have the right to special recognition by the country: Political prisoners condemned by the German authorities to severe punishment for their attachment to France, and hostages of war who for sometimes years, remained in retaliation camps in Poland and Lithuania.

The Medal for victims of the invasion was awarded in three classes: The 1st class in silver gilt, the 2nd class in silver and the 3rd class in bronze.

Medal for Victims of the Invasion Design

The medal measures 30 mm in diameter, is circular and struck in bronze, silvered bronze, silver or gilt silver.

The obverse of the medal was done by engraver Pierre Dautel and bears the relief image of the right profile of a woman wearing a scarf. She has her hands bound in front of her and is looking skywards. The reverse has a relief inscription that reads “AUX” ”VICTIMES” ”DE” ”L’INVASION” ”LA FRANCE” ”RECONNAISSANTE” surrounded by a laurel wreath.

Two clasps could be worn on the ribbon: OTAGES DE GUERRE (WAR HOSTAGES) and PRISONNIERS POLITIQUES (POLITICAL PRISONERS).

The Medal for Civilian Prisoners, Deportees and Hostages

The Medal for Civilian Prisoners, Deportees and Hostages of the 1914-1918 Great War is a commemorative medal awarded to French civilians.

  • Time Period: The Great War
  • Institution: 14 March 1936
  • Country: France

The Medal for civilian prisoners, deportees and hostages of the 1914-1918 Great War (or Médaille des prisonniers civils, déportés et otages de la Grande Guerre 1914-1918) is a commemorative medal awarded to French civilians who were interned in camps during World War I after being deported from the German occupied French territories.

The medal was created by law on 14 March 1936, officially recognizing the sacrifices and patriotism of the French civilians that were forced to leave their homes to be detained or serve as hostages. The medal could also be awarded posthumously for civilian prisoners that were killed or that died of wounds product of their internment.

The Medal for civilian prisoners, deportees and hostages of the 1914-1918 Great War Design

The medal measures 32 mm in diameter, is circular and is struck from bronze.

Its obverse shows a relief image of a woman walking slowly, with her head lowered and her right wrist chained. Her left hand drops a torch symbolizing the home she must abandon. The reverse bore the relief inscription “PRISONNIERS” “CIVILS” “DÉPORTÉS” “ET” “OTAGES” “DE LA” “GRANDE GUERRE” over two closed flowers and surrounded by the circular relief image of a chain along the medal’s circumference.

The Dardanelles Campaign Medal

The Dardanelles campaign medal is a French military medal awarded for participation in the Battle of the Dardanelles or Gallipoli campaign.

The Dardanelles campaign medal (or “Médaille commémorative des Dardanelles”  in French) is a French military medal awarded between 25 April 1915 and 9 January 1916 for participation in the Battle of the Dardanelles, also known as the Gallipoli campaign (which was held against the Central Powers by the Corps expéditionnaire d’Orient and supported by the Royal Navy and French Navy).

The Dardanelles campaign medal was awarded to military and civilian personnel and no minimum time of service is mentioned in the award statute.

The Dardanelles Campaign Medal Design

The Dardanelles campaign medal is circular, measures 30mm in diameter and is struck from bronze.

The obverse of the medal shows a relief image of the “warrior republic” in the form of the left profile of a helmeted woman’s bust. The relief inscription along the circumference “FRENCH REPUBLIC”. The reverse represents both the army and navy, with a relief image of an infantry rifle crossed with a naval anchor. There are two military banners and lances below, surmounted by the inscription “DARDANELLES” (or sometimes “HONNEUR ET PATRIE 1915 1918”).

The medal hung from a ribbon through a ring adorned by a 24mm in diameter bronze laurel wreath and half crescent. The silk moiré ribbon is 37mm wide and is white with four equidistant 3mm wide green stripes beginning 3mm from the edges. A gilt clasp with oriental ornamentation and the inscription “DARDANELLES” is sometimes worn on it, although it is a privately purchased item and unofficial.