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Inter-Allied Victory Medal (Greece)

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Obverse (left) and reverse (right) views of the medal

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

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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

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Inter-Allied Victory Medal by Country
Country Designer Manufacturer Number issued Obverse Reverse Established by
Belgium Paul Du Bois (1859–1938) ----- 300,000–350,000 Royal Decree from 15 July 1919
Brazil [Wikidata] Jorge Soubre [fr] (1890–1934) approximately 2,500 Decree nr. 16074 from 22 June 1923
Cuba [Wikidata] Charles Charles
  • Etablissements Chobillon
 6,000–7,000 Decree nr. 905 from 10 June 1922
Czechoslovakia [cz] Otakar Španiel (1881–1955)
  • Kremnice Mint
 approximately 89,500 Decree from 27 July 1920
France Pierre-Alexandre Morlon [fr] (1878–1951) approximately 2,000,000 Law from 20 July 1922
Charles Charles[Note 1]
  • Etablissements Chobillon
 -----

M. Pautot and Louis Octave Mattei[Note 1]

----- -----
Greece Henry-Eugène Nocq (1868–1944)
  • V. Canale
 approximately 200,000 Law from 22 September 1920
Italy Gaetano Orsolini (1884–1954)
  • Sacchini-Milano
  • S.Johnson-Milano
  • F.M.Lorioli & Castelli-Milano
 approximately 2,000,000 Royal Decree nr. 1918 from 16 December 1920
Japan[Note 2] Shokichi Hata approximately 700,000 Imperial Edict nr 406 from 17 September 1920
Poland[Note 3] .... Vlaitov
  • Mint Kremnica
 -----
Portugal [pt] João Da Silva (1880–1960)
  • Da Costa
 approximately 100,000 Decree from 15 July 1919
Romania Constantin Kristescu (1871–1928) approximately 300,000 Royal Decree nr 3390 from 20 July 1921
Siam (Thailand) [th] Itthithepsan Kritakara [th] (1890–1935) ----- approximately 1,500
South Africa[Note 4] William McMillan (1887–1977)
  • Woolwich Arsenal
 approximately 75,000 Decree from 1 September 1919
United Kingdom[Note 5] William McMillan (1887–1977) 6,334,522 plus Decree from 1 September 1919
United States James Earle Fraser (1876–1953)
  • Arts Metal Works Inc.
  • S.G.Adams Stamp & Stationary Co.
  • Jos. Mayer Inc.
 approximately 2,500,000 General Order nr 48 from 9 April 1919 of the Department of War
Source unless otherwise indicated: Alexander J. Laslo (1986). The Interallied Victory Medals of World War I. Albuquerque: Dorado Publishing. ISBN 0961732008.
Notes
  1. ^ a b Unofficial type.
  2. ^ On the obverse the winged figure of Victory was replaced by Takemikazuchi, the war god in Japanese mythology.
  3. ^ 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 veterans’ group.
  4. ^ The text on the reverse is in English and Dutch.
  5. ^ 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.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Papadakis 1934, p. 244.
  2. ^ Katiușa Pârvan, Angela Mihalea (1998). "Câteva date privind opera medalistică a sculptorului Constantin Kristescu" [Information regarding the medals created by sculptor Constantin Kristescu] (PDF). Acta Moldaviae Meridionalis (in Romanian). XV-XX-II: 294–295.

Sources

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  • George J. Beldecos, "Hellenic Orders, Decorations and Medals", pub. Hellenic War Museum, Athens 1991, ISBN 960-85054-0-2.
  • Papadakis, V. P. (1934). "Παράσημα" [Decorations]. Μεγάλη Ἐλληνικὴ Ἐγκυκλοπαιδεῖα, Τόμος Δέκατος. Ἑλλάς – Ἑλληνισμὸς (in Greek). Athens: Pyrsos Co. Ltd. pp. 243–244.
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