BACKGROUND: The Italian/German African campaign medal was introduced by the Italian government in the spring of 1942 to commemorate the actions of the DAK, Deutsche Afrika Korps (German Africa Corps), in Africa. As a foreign war decoration, German personnel were given pre-authorization to accept and wear the medal it if was awarded. Of Note: After Italy’s capitulation and declaration of war against Germany in September and October of 1943, further wear of any Italian decorations or awards was prohibited. However the prohibition wasn’t official until regulations of March 29TH 1944 restricting wear of Italian awards was authorized. Of Interest: The Feleni arch, as depicted on the reverse of the medal, was erected by Mussolini on the border between the Libyan provinces of Tripolitania and Cyrenaica in 1937 making it a most suitable emblem for this award.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Early example. Medal features two embossed, high relief, stylized gladiators, representing Germany and Italy, slaying a crocodile, representing Great Britain to the obverse. The reverse has the embossed likeness of the Feleni arch, the Royal Knot of the House of Savoy, a fasces and a swastika. The outer border of the reverse has embossed script in both Italian and German, "Campagna Italo-Tedesca in Africa", and, "Italienisch-Deutscher Feldzug in Afrika" (Italian-German Campaign in Africa). The obverse of the medal has the embossed designer's and manufacturer's names, "De Marchis" and, "Lorioli Milano" respectively. The medal has an integral ribbon suspension bar and comes complete its piece of original ribbed rayon ribbon in both the German and Italian national colors.