- Time Period: World War II
- Institution: 1 April 1953
- Country: France
The 1943–1944 Italian campaign medal (or Médaille commémorative de la campagne d’Italie 1943-1944 in French) is a French commemorative campaign medal awarded to soldiers and sailors who served on Italian soil or Italian waters as part of the “French Expeditionary Corps of Italy”. The corps participated in the allied amphibious landing and the ensuing campaign in Italy in 1943 and 1944.
Composed in part of Frenchmen from North Africa and in part with colonial troops, the CEF covered itself with glory during this long campaign and especially during the battle of the Garigliano. In January 1953, Parliament approved the creation of a distinct medal to adequately recognize the valour in combat and the sacrifice of the men of the CEF – who lost more than 7,000 members.
The 1943–1944 Italian Campaign Medal Design
The 1943–1944 Italian Campaign Medal measures 36mm in diameter and is made of silvered bronze medal.
Its obverse bore the left profile view of a Gallic rooster in front of Sun rays surrounded by the relief circular inscription “CORPS EXPÉDITIONAIRE FRANÇAIS D’ITALIE * 1943-1944 *” within a relief laurel wreath along the entire medal circumference. On the reverse, within the same relief laurel wreath, the circular inscription “RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE” at the bottom a relief five-pointed star, in the center, the relief inscription “CEF”.
The 1943–1944 Italian Campaign Medal hangs from a ribbon passing through a suspension ring. The 36mm wide silk moiré ribbon is composed of seven red and six white alternating vertical stripes of equal width.
