WW2 ITALIAN & GERMAN NORTH AFRICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL BY LORIOLI OF MILAN

WW2 ITALIAN & GERMAN NORTH AFRICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL BY LORIOLI OF MILANCircular Kriegsmetall zinc alloy medal with integral loop for ribbon suspension; the face with the Arco dei Fileni monument centrally, the Italian fasces to the left, the German swastika to the right, the knot of Savoy below, circumscribed CAMPAGNA ITALO TEDESCA IN AFRICA ITALIENISCH DEUTSCHER FELDZUG IN AFRICA, laurel leaves at the top, oak leaves at the base; the reverse with two armored soldiers forcing open the jaws of a crocodile in allegory of

Circular ‘Kriegsmetall’ zinc alloy medal with integral loop for ribbon suspension; the face with the Arco dei Fileni monument centrally, the Italian fasces to the left, the German swastika to the right, the knot of Savoy below, circumscribed ‘CAMPAGNA ITALO-TEDESCA IN AFRICA ITALIENISCH-DEUTSCHER FELDZUG IN AFRICA’, laurel leaves at the top, oak leaves at the base; the reverse with two armored soldiers forcing open the jaws of a crocodile in allegory of the British hold on the Suez Canal, signed ‘DE MARCHIS’ at the base, maker’s mark ‘LORIOLI MILANO’ to the left; on correct water silk ribbon.

The award was first created in ribbon form in 1942 for Italian and German troops in North Africa but on 7 January 1943 a medal was proposed by General Magli on behalf of the Supreme Command in Libya.The Medal, though produced and distributed, was never officially recognized and is rare.