Spain - Morocco 1916

[Eric Stahlhut]

green silk ribbon has long since faded

[Eric Stahlhut]

[Eric Stahlhut]

hmm..interesting that no one has commented upon this small reminder of a particularly nasty and bloody episode in the history of guerrilla warfare.

Edited October 6, 2008 by Eric Stahlhut

[Paul L Murphy]

Yummy, if only it could talk. This was a nasty little war as you say. I love it when they come nicely worn like this, you know they have been worn for a long time rather than being unissued.

[Ed_Haynes]

Yes, an underappreciated medal and part of the sordid tale of north Africa.

[Eric Stahlhut]

thanks guys,

the spaniards had a very tough time for a while. in certain circles, this episode is called the 'rif genocide'. franco was the man of the hour, i guess.

p.s. ed, i never realized there was a bronze example. thanks for sharing!

[Ed_Haynes]

See Antonio's site:

http://www.coleccionesmilitares.com/medall.../campafrica.htm

[eitze]

I always wondered why is King Alfonso XIII. looking sooo German on this medal

greetings

eitze

[Ed_Haynes]

Because after 1871 EVERYONE copied their goofy helments on those used by those prominent in the headlines (including the UK, USA, etc. . . . all but France, I guess). The same reason all armies look like the USA today?

[Megan]

On uniforms: during the 19th century the fashion was to dress your army like which ever one was doing well at the time on the battlefield. During the 2nd half of the 20th century the tendency was to dress your army according to which side of the Iron Curtain your political leanings were, or if non-aligned, in the style of whichever power you were most friendly with.