The Collector’s Encyclopaedia · Decorations · Wehrmacht awards
Italo-German Africa Campaign Medal: History, Grades and Collector’s Guide
| Created | 1942 (instituted by Mussolini); issued from 1943 |
|---|---|
| Awarded to | Italian and German soldiers with at least six months in North Africa |
| Maker | Lorioli, Milan; design by de Marchis |
| Withdrawn | Wearing banned in Germany in 1944, after Italy changed sides in October 1943 |
| In the collection | 1 piece currently available (see below) |
The commemorative medal for the Italian-German campaign in Africa is an Italian award that German soldiers wore on their uniforms. Its short life, from 1943 until it was banned in 1944, mirrors the collapse of the Axis alliance.
What Was the Italo-German Africa Campaign Medal?
According to the Deutsches Panzermuseum Munster, Mussolini instituted the medal in 1942 and it was issued in 1943 to Italian and German soldiers who had served at least six months in North Africa. The obverse shows a triumphal arch in Libya flanked by the fasces and the swastika; the reverse shows two ancient warriors closing the jaws of a crocodile, representing Britain. After Italy declared war on Germany on 13 October 1943, wearing it was banned in 1944.
Who Awarded It, and Which Documents Go With It?
German award documents and Wehrpass entries record the medal. Germans wore the ribbon with the black stripe to the left. See award documents and Erwin Rommel.
What Should Collectors Watch For?
- Bronze and silver-plated versions exist, and zinc examples are found.
- Maker marks help identification but are also copied.
- Documents to German soldiers are scarcer than the medals.
Legal note. In Germany the 1957 Orders and Decorations Act allows Second World War awards to be worn only without National Socialist emblems, which is why “1957 pattern” versions without the swastika exist. The public display of Nazi symbols is restricted in Germany, Austria and several other countries. Owning, buying and selling original decorations as historical objects is treated differently from country to country, so check the law where you live and where you ship.
Collector’s Note
This medal tells the story of an alliance in one object, from its propaganda imagery to its prohibition a year later.
Related Entries and Pieces
Pieces in the Collection
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who instituted the Italo-German Africa medal?
Benito Mussolini, in 1942.
Who could receive it?
Italian and German soldiers with at least six months in North Africa.
Why was it banned in Germany?
Because Italy declared war on Germany in October 1943.
Historical Responsibility Notice: this entry documents historical figures and artefacts of the National Socialist period for collecting, preservation, education and research. It does not endorse or glorify any ideology, and it is written in memory of the victims of the regime.
References & Further Reading
- Deutsches Panzermuseum Munster, Medal for the Italian-German campaign in Africa (object of the month 03/2020, inv. DPM 3.2542).
- Federal Republic of Germany (1957, as amended) Gesetz über Titel, Orden und Ehrenzeichen (OrdenG), §§ 6 and 15, Bundesministerium der Justiz / gesetze-im-internet.de.