Greek 1940-41 & 1941-45 Commemorative War Medals
The Greek Commemorative War Medals of 1940-1941 and 1941-1945 are well-known and commonly encountered in the militaria market. What is not that well-known is the exact process through which they were instituted, their originally planned design and how and when their final one came into being.
The medals were instituted with the Emergency Law (E.L.) 1048, published in the Official Government Gazette (O.G.G.), Issue No 82 of March 5, 1946, “[o]n the institution of commemorative campaign medals of the last war”. The medals were to complement the Cross of Valour, the 1940 War Cross and the Medal for Outstanding Acts (E.L. 2646/40). The Law dictated that one of the medals would be issued for “the campaigns of Albania, Macedonia, Thrace and the rest of Greece, as well as the sea and air operations” and the other for “the campaigns of Africa and Italy, as well as the sea and air operations of the sea and air forces in exile until the end of the war.” The details of their design were to be regulated by Royal Decree (R.D.) in the future.
The R.D. came two months later, on May 5, 1946 and was published in the O.G.G., Issue No 209 of July 4, 1946. It dictated that the medals were to be awarded:
“A: For the Land, Sea and Air operations in Albania, Macedonia, Crete and other areas of Greece.
B: For the Operations in North Africa and Italy and the war at sea in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.”
Both medals were to be of the same design, differing only in their ribbons and:
The medals were instituted with the Emergency Law (E.L.) 1048, published in the Official Government Gazette (O.G.G.), Issue No 82 of March 5, 1946, “[o]n the institution of commemorative campaign medals of the last war”. The medals were to complement the Cross of Valour, the 1940 War Cross and the Medal for Outstanding Acts (E.L. 2646/40). The Law dictated that one of the medals would be issued for “the campaigns of Albania, Macedonia, Thrace and the rest of Greece, as well as the sea and air operations” and the other for “the campaigns of Africa and Italy, as well as the sea and air operations of the sea and air forces in exile until the end of the war.” The details of their design were to be regulated by Royal Decree (R.D.) in the future.
The R.D. came two months later, on May 5, 1946 and was published in the O.G.G., Issue No 209 of July 4, 1946. It dictated that the medals were to be awarded:
“A: For the Land, Sea and Air operations in Albania, Macedonia, Crete and other areas of Greece.
B: For the Operations in North Africa and Italy and the war at sea in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.”
Both medals were to be of the same design, differing only in their ribbons and:
“Made of bronze, in the colour of aged bronze, in round shape of a 36 mm diameter. [Their] composition, thickness and suspension ring are similar to the ones of the Interallied Victory Medal.
The obverse bears a cross, with arms of equal length, in relief, from each angle of which a group of seven rays is emitted. Peripherally and on the upper part, [it bears] the inscription “ΕΝ ΤΟΥΤΩ ΝΙΚΑ” [“In this sign you will conquer”] in Byzantine lettering and on the lower part the date 1940-1945. A branch of laurel is located on each side of the vertical part of the cross. On the other side and in the middle, an ancient shield in relief, on seven spears, six of which diagonally crossed in groups of three, the seventh at a vertical angle. On the middle of the shield and in two rows, it bears the inscription “ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ” [“Come and take them”], peripherally the phrase “ΕΛΛΗΝΟΪΤΑΛΙΖΟΣ (sic!) – ΕΛΛΗΝΟΓΕΡΜΑΝΙΚΟΣ ΠΟΛΕΜΟΣ” [“Greek-Italian – Greek-German War”].” The ribbon of the Greek-Italian and Greek-German War Medal “is 36 mm in length and made of silk, bearing eleven stripes, of which two blue on the edges, 1.4 mm in length, white ones, 3 mm in length, interchanged on the one hand with two blue ones, 7 mm in length and containing on the other hand three stripes of green, red, and black colour, with a length of 1 mm each.” The one of the Africa and Italy Medal “[..] is also 36 mm in length. It is made of silk, bearing nine stripes: The white ones (5 mm in length) on each edge and the two dark yellow ones (8 mm in length), containing five stripes (2 mm in length) of the enemy colours (red, green, black), in a harmonic order.” |
The text refers to the related drawings, but these were unfortunately not found in the aforementioned O.G.G., leaving room for further archival research.
Further mention is made on the subject of the complementary issue of the bars corresponding to the specific campaigns. These were “copper bars, of similar type to the 1912-1913 ones, corresponding to the campaigns or battles in which the awardee took part. A: Campaigns of Albania, Macedonia, Thrace and the rest of Greece. 1. For the Army and the Air Force. ΑΛΒΑΝΙΑ (ALBANIA) ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΑ (MACEDONIA) ΘΡΑΚΗ (THRACE) ΚΡΗΤΗ (CRETE) 2. For the Navy ΑΔΡΙΑΤΙΚΗ (ADRIATIC) ΣΥΝΟΔΕΙΑΙ (ESCORTS) ΥΠΟΒΡΥΧΙΑ (SUBMARINES) B. North Africa and Italy Campaigns 1. For the Army and the Air Force. ΑΦΡΙΚΗ (AFRICA) ΙΤΑΛΙΑ (ITALY) ΑΙΓΑΙΟΝ (AEGEAN – for the raids executed by the Sacred Band) 2. For the Navy. ΣΥΝΟΔΕΙΑΙ (ESCORTS) ΒΟΡ. ΑΦΡΙΚΗ (N. AFRICA) ΣΙΚΕΛΙΑ – ΙΤΑΛΙΑ (SICILY – ITALY) ΝΟΤΙΟΣ ΓΑΛΛΙΑ (SOUTHERN FRANCE) ΒΟΡ. ΓΑΛΛΙΑ (N. FRANCE) ΑΤΛΑΝΤΙΚΟΣ (ATLANTIC OCEAN) ΙΝΔΙΚΟΣ (INDIAN OCEAN) ΔΩΔΕΚΑΝΗΣΑ (DODECANESE) ΥΠΟΒΡΥΧΙΑ (SUBMARINES) Participants of more than one of the aforementioned campaigns or battles bear the respective bars.” |
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Just like the Commemorative Medals of the Greek-Turkish and Greek-Bulgarian Wars of 1912-1913, the R.D. dictated the issue of two additional bars for both the wounded and the killed in action, with two crossed swords or a cross, respectively.
According to the R.D. in mention, the awardees would be the personnel of the Army, Naval, and Air Forces and civilians. The latter were not eligible for any of the campaign bars. Foreigners having served in Greece during the time of the war, were also eligible. The R.D. of December 4, 1946, O.G.G. Issue No 354 of December 16, 1946, included the personnel of the Police Force to the awardees, while the R.D. of August 19, 1947, O.G.G. Issue No 193 of September 3, 1947, the personnel of the Fire Brigade and the Coast Guard.
Examples mounted on ribbon bars and photographic evidence clearly show that ribbons of both medals were manufactured and worn by officers during this period, although the exact number issued is not known –at least publically. They are very rare, since they were worn for less than a year.
Examples mounted on ribbon bars and photographic evidence clearly show that ribbons of both medals were manufactured and worn by officers during this period, although the exact number issued is not known –at least publically. They are very rare, since they were worn for less than a year.
A new R.D. of the recently crowned King Paul -after the death of his brother on April 1- dated April 25, 1947, O.G.G., Issue No 100 of May 5, 1947, cancelled the previous R.D. and reinstituted the medals with a totally new design. According to it:
“The Medal of the campaigns of Albania, Macedonia, Thrace, Crete and the rest of Greece (1940-1941) is of a single class.
It is manufactured of bronze, in the colour of aged bronze, in a round shape of 32 mm in diameter.
The composition and their thickness are similar to the ones of the Interallied Victory Medal.
Its suspension ring is of the same metal, circular, 1 mm in thickness, passing through a sphere, securely mounted on the upper part of the medal.
On the obverse, it bears the head of H.M. King George II in relief, also a laurel wreath peripherally, entwined by a ribbon and interrupted with an inset crown. On the other side, and also in relief and one over the other the date 1940-1941 and the names ΗΠΕΙΡΟΣ (EPIRUS), ΑΛΒΑΝΙΑ (ALBANIA), ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΑ (MACEDONIA), ΘΡΑΚΗ (THRACE), ΚΡΗΤΗ (CRETE) in capital letters.
The ribbon has a width of 34 mm and is consisted of silk fabric, bearing five stripes, two of which white, on the edges, 1.5 mm in length, and two dark blue ones, 10 mm in length, on each side of the central stripe, 11 mm in length and of light blue colour.”
An interesting observation is that the colour of the central stripe of the ribbon is referred to as light blue, something seen on a number of ribbons, but not on their majority, on which the stripe is of white colour. Any supposed difference on the issue of the two differently coloured ribbons is not mentioned in the R.D.
Regarding the second medal:
“The medal of Africa, Aegean Isles and Italy (1941-1945) is of the same metal and colour […].
Its shape is the one of the regular hexagonal star, having a vertical axis falling on its longest diagonal, [which is] linking two opposing angles of the star. The length of the longest diagonal is 40 mm. The top angle of the star is covered by a crown, to which the suspension ring is linked. On the obverse and inside the inscribed on the star circle, it bears in relief two olive branches on two swords running along the whole length of the diagonals linking the opposing angles on the sides of the star.
On the other side, inscribed in relief, in capital letters and in four lines, one over the other, are the date 1941-1945 and the names Β. ΑΦΡΙΚΗ (Ν. AFRICA), Ν. ΑΙΓΑΙΟΥ (AEGEAN ISLES), ΙΤΑΛΙΑ (ITALY).
The ribbon of the medal has a length of 34 mm and consists of silk fabric bearing three stripes, the two of which, located on the edges have a length of 11 mm each and the central one 12 mm. Their colours are red, blue, and green.”
Another interesting observation can be made when comparing the drawing of the R.D. to the known variations of the medal. The former shows a perforated crown, while the latter all have the gaps between the arms of the crown filled. The shape of the crown itself also deviates from the original design.
Both of the aforementioned medals were to be issued to Army and Air Force personnel. A different type of each medal was to be awarded to the Naval Forces. These were to have the same obverse as the ones already described, but their reverse mentioned the respective naval campaigns. So, the 1940-41 Navy Medal was to bear the names "ΑΙΓΑΙΟΝ (AEGEAN SEA), ΙΟΝΙΟΝ (IONIAN SEA), ΜΥΡΤΩΟΝ (MYRTIAN SEA), ΑΔΡΙΑΤΙΚΗ (ADRIATIC SEA) and the 1941-1945 Medal the names ΜΕΣΟΓΕΙΟΣ (MEDITERRANEAN SEA), ΑΤΛΑΝΤΙΚΟΣ (ATLANTIC OCEAN), ΙΝΔΙΚΟΣ (INDIAN OCEAN)."
Although examples of the Navy types are occasionally encountered, they are extremely rare. Navy medal bars with the Army/Air Force types are also commonly seen, which is a sign that not all Navy awardees were issued with the respective medals. Again, unfortunately, the reason why this was the case, as well as the existing number of Navy 1940-1941 and 1941-1945 Medals are not known as of yet.
It is manufactured of bronze, in the colour of aged bronze, in a round shape of 32 mm in diameter.
The composition and their thickness are similar to the ones of the Interallied Victory Medal.
Its suspension ring is of the same metal, circular, 1 mm in thickness, passing through a sphere, securely mounted on the upper part of the medal.
On the obverse, it bears the head of H.M. King George II in relief, also a laurel wreath peripherally, entwined by a ribbon and interrupted with an inset crown. On the other side, and also in relief and one over the other the date 1940-1941 and the names ΗΠΕΙΡΟΣ (EPIRUS), ΑΛΒΑΝΙΑ (ALBANIA), ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΑ (MACEDONIA), ΘΡΑΚΗ (THRACE), ΚΡΗΤΗ (CRETE) in capital letters.
The ribbon has a width of 34 mm and is consisted of silk fabric, bearing five stripes, two of which white, on the edges, 1.5 mm in length, and two dark blue ones, 10 mm in length, on each side of the central stripe, 11 mm in length and of light blue colour.”
An interesting observation is that the colour of the central stripe of the ribbon is referred to as light blue, something seen on a number of ribbons, but not on their majority, on which the stripe is of white colour. Any supposed difference on the issue of the two differently coloured ribbons is not mentioned in the R.D.
Regarding the second medal:
“The medal of Africa, Aegean Isles and Italy (1941-1945) is of the same metal and colour […].
Its shape is the one of the regular hexagonal star, having a vertical axis falling on its longest diagonal, [which is] linking two opposing angles of the star. The length of the longest diagonal is 40 mm. The top angle of the star is covered by a crown, to which the suspension ring is linked. On the obverse and inside the inscribed on the star circle, it bears in relief two olive branches on two swords running along the whole length of the diagonals linking the opposing angles on the sides of the star.
On the other side, inscribed in relief, in capital letters and in four lines, one over the other, are the date 1941-1945 and the names Β. ΑΦΡΙΚΗ (Ν. AFRICA), Ν. ΑΙΓΑΙΟΥ (AEGEAN ISLES), ΙΤΑΛΙΑ (ITALY).
The ribbon of the medal has a length of 34 mm and consists of silk fabric bearing three stripes, the two of which, located on the edges have a length of 11 mm each and the central one 12 mm. Their colours are red, blue, and green.”
Another interesting observation can be made when comparing the drawing of the R.D. to the known variations of the medal. The former shows a perforated crown, while the latter all have the gaps between the arms of the crown filled. The shape of the crown itself also deviates from the original design.
Both of the aforementioned medals were to be issued to Army and Air Force personnel. A different type of each medal was to be awarded to the Naval Forces. These were to have the same obverse as the ones already described, but their reverse mentioned the respective naval campaigns. So, the 1940-41 Navy Medal was to bear the names "ΑΙΓΑΙΟΝ (AEGEAN SEA), ΙΟΝΙΟΝ (IONIAN SEA), ΜΥΡΤΩΟΝ (MYRTIAN SEA), ΑΔΡΙΑΤΙΚΗ (ADRIATIC SEA) and the 1941-1945 Medal the names ΜΕΣΟΓΕΙΟΣ (MEDITERRANEAN SEA), ΑΤΛΑΝΤΙΚΟΣ (ATLANTIC OCEAN), ΙΝΔΙΚΟΣ (INDIAN OCEAN)."
Although examples of the Navy types are occasionally encountered, they are extremely rare. Navy medal bars with the Army/Air Force types are also commonly seen, which is a sign that not all Navy awardees were issued with the respective medals. Again, unfortunately, the reason why this was the case, as well as the existing number of Navy 1940-1941 and 1941-1945 Medals are not known as of yet.
I hope that the present article has helped to shed some light into the specifics of the institution of the Greek WW2 Commemorative Medals and the related details and that future research will clarify the remaining "shady" areas.
Sources:
1. Emergency Law 1048/1946, Official Government Gazette No 82, Issue A, March 5, 1946.
2. Royal Decree of May 5, 1946, published on Official Government Gazette No 209, Issue A, July 4, 1946.
3. Royal Decree of December 4, 1946, published on Official Government Gazette No 354, Issue A, December 4, 1946.
4. Royal Decree of April 25, 1947, published of Official Government Gazette No 100, Issue A, May 23, 1947.
5. Royal Decree of August 19, 1947, published on Official Government Gazette No 193, Issue A, September 3, 1947.
1. Emergency Law 1048/1946, Official Government Gazette No 82, Issue A, March 5, 1946.
2. Royal Decree of May 5, 1946, published on Official Government Gazette No 209, Issue A, July 4, 1946.
3. Royal Decree of December 4, 1946, published on Official Government Gazette No 354, Issue A, December 4, 1946.
4. Royal Decree of April 25, 1947, published of Official Government Gazette No 100, Issue A, May 23, 1947.
5. Royal Decree of August 19, 1947, published on Official Government Gazette No 193, Issue A, September 3, 1947.