Italy Al Valore Militare

[dedehansen]

Hello Gentlemen,

I got this cased silver Al Valore Militare medal.

The former owner told me, that it was awarded to an german soldier.

Is this possible and is it known why the medal has no engraving ?

[dedehansen]

Reverse without engraving

[dedehansen]

Case closed

[dedehansen]

Open case

Every comment is welcome

Regards

[Elmar Lang]

Hello,

your piece is a fine specimen of the Italian Silver Medal for Military Valour, of the type awarded after WW1 and in the early WW2. Being unnamed, most possibly, it was awarded to a foreigner as a "on the field" ("Sul Campo") award.

From the pictures I see the mint marks of the crowned "Z" and "F.G", that have to be on any officially awarded piece; the case is also the correct one.

No wonder then, that the medal could have been awarded to a German soldier on one of the fronts where Italian and German troops fought together.

In the Italian award system, the Silver Medal for Valour is the second highest award for gallantry and courage in combat.

Best wishes,

E.L.

Edited March 10, 2013 by Elmar Lang

[Chris Boonzaier]

Hi,

a silly question... i had 2 bronze ones to German sldiers in WW2, both were named?

best

Chris

[Elmar Lang]

Hi,

I know that named Al Valore medals to foreigners of the Axis powers, existed for sure.

Usually, named pieces were those awarded after an operational phase, where the higher commands had time to collect proposals for awards. those accepted, had enough time to allow The Ministry of War in Italy, to order named medals to the Royal Mint.

As said, the medals awarded "On the Field", were given out for instance from an Army Corps Command, that disposed of a certain number of unnamed medals, to be awarded very shortly after the date of an act of gallantry.

Curiously, at a recent auction, Iìve had the opportunity to purchase three award documents of resp. a Silver, a Bronze and a Cross for Military Valour, to German Luftwaffe NCOs of the flying personnel, dating from 1941. The medals were missing though, but such documents to non-italians, are very rare.

Best wishes,

E.L.

[JimZ]

Hi,

a silly question... i had 2 bronze ones to German sldiers in WW2, both were named?

best

Chris

"Had" Chris?

Jim

[Chris Boonzaier]

Hi,

Both LW. I traded them off many moons ago, I may still have pics of one of the groups with his docs.... will look this weekend...

[dedehansen]

Thanks Elmar for the information. Now the

medal is even more interesting for me.

I thought that it only was a "Spangenstück"

KR

Andreas

[Elmar Lang]

In Italy, what in Germany is called Spangenstück never bears any mint mark. They were made by private firms like Johnson, Lorioli, Pagani, etc.

Interesting to see an unnamed, official medal. It's a pity that often, they fall into the hands of some "creative" people, trying to upgrade them with an attempt of an old, engraved naming, thus damaging an otherwise good piece.

Best wishes,

E.L.

Edited March 12, 2013 by Elmar Lang