 | Brandywine Militaria |
|
Home |
|
Italo German Afrika Korps Campaign Medal in Africa browse these categories for related items... All Items: Cyberattic: Pre 1940: item # 1174335
Brandywine Militaria By Appointment Kennett Square, Pennsylvania 215-531-4376 Guest Book Layaway |
|
||||
| This is a classic and much underrated medal. It was not an official German medal but it was allowed to be worn as it was considered foreign decoration. These were awarded by the Italian Government almost exclusively to Rommel's Afrika Korps beginning in early 1942. Not only were these only awarded to a select few but there were also later prohibited when Italy surrendered in March 1944. It then becomes clear why these are getting hard to find; There never were very many. This example is the earlier bronze type with what is clearly the original ribbon. The ribbon does have a chunk missing but this is luckily on the reverse. The front is complete with only minor fading. The medal was once sewn on something but when pulled off, one stitch popped and the other apparently tore sideways causing the ribbon damage on the reverse. This is kind of interesting as one wonders if it was just ripped off when it became an outlawed award. The theme of the medal is terrific with two glaidators (Germany and Italy fighting one of those darned British crocodiles. The early make also almost ensures that it was awarded to one of the early and successful "Rommel" Germans and not one of the far more numerous "von Arnim" Germans that surrendered later. This is one of my favorite medals and specific to the legendary Germans fighting in Afrika. | |||||
|
