Summary
The Inter-Allied Victory Medal (Greek: Διασυμμαχικόν Μετάλλιον της Νίκης) is a campaign medal issued by Greece, commemorating the Allied victory in the First World War.[1]
Greek award edit
The medal is the Greek version of a common design used among all Allied nations, following a proposal made by Marshal Ferdinand Foch, who was supreme commander of the Allied Forces during the war.[1] In Greece, the medal was instituted by Law 2481 on 22 September 1920 (O.S.).[1]
Each medal, in bronze, has the same diameter (36 mm) and ribbon (double rainbow), but with a national design representing a winged Victory. The Greek version of the medal was designed by Henry-Eugène Nocq.
It features an ancient Greek-style Victory on the obverse, and on the reverse the circular inscription Ο ΜΕΓΑΣ ΥΠΕΡ ΤΟΥ ΠΟΛΙΤΙΣΜΟΥ ΠΟΛΕΜΟΣ 1914—1918 ('The Great War for Civilisation, 1914–1918') around the edge, and in the centre a list of the Allied nations, under the title ΣΥΜΜΑΧΟΙ ΚΑΙ ΕΤΑΙΡΟΙ ('Allies and Partners').[1] It was widely awarded to Greek military personnel that fought for at least three months, or was wounded in action, not only in the First World War, but also in the Allies' Southern Russia intervention, and the Greco-Turkish War of 1919–1922.[1]
International award edit
| Country | Designer | Manufacturer | Number issued |
| Belgium | Paul Du Bois (1859–1938) | ----- | 300,000 – 350,000 |
| Brazil | Jorge Soubre (1890–1934) |
|
approximately 2,500 |
| Cuba | Charles Charles |
|
6,000 – 7,000 |
| Czechoslovakia | Otakar Španiel (1881–1955) |
|
approximately 89,500 |
| France | Pierre-Alexandre Morlon (1878–1951) |
|
approximately 2,000,000 |
| France[2] | Charles Charles |
|
----- |
| France[3] |
|
----- | ----- |
| Great Britain[4] | William McMillan (1887–1977) |
|
6,334,522 plus |
| Greece | Henry-Eugène Nocq (1868–1944) |
|
approximately 200,000 |
| Italy | Gaetano Orsolini (1884–1954) |
|
approximately 2,000,000 |
| Japan[5] | Shoukichi Hata |
|
approximately 700,000 |
| Poland[6] | .... Vlaitov |
|
----- |
| Portugal | João Da Silva (1880–1960) |
|
approximately 100,000 |
| Rumania | .... Kristesko | ----- | approximately 300,000 |
| Siam (Thailand) | Itthithepsan Kritakara (1890–1935) | ----- | approximately 1,500 |
| South Africa[7] | William McMillan (1887–1977) |
|
approximately 75,000 |
| United States | James Earle Fraser (1876–1953) |
|
approximately 2,500,000 |
(Main source : The interallied victory medals of world war I by Alexander J. Laslo, Dorado Publishing, Albuquerque. 1986 Edition )
References edit
- ^ a b c d e Papadakis 1934, p. 244.
- ^ Unofficial type.
- ^ Unofficial type.
- ^ Awarded not only to British combatants but as well to those from the dominions of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and those from the Empire of India.
- ^ On the obverse the winged figure of Victory was replaced by a warrior holding a spear.
- ^ For reasons still not known, Poland did not proceed with the manufacture of the medal at their mint. The medal shows a clearly visible "MK" ( Mint Kremnica). The medal may possibly be an unofficial strike by a veteran's group.
- ^ The text on the reverse is in English and Dutch.
Sources edit
External links edit
- Inter-Allied Victory Medal, Greek official issue, 1914-1918