- Time Period: The Great War
- Institution: 19 January 1918
- Country: Italy
The Italian War Merit Cross (Croce al Merito di Guerra) was instituted by the King Victor Emanuel III in 1918, and was awarded to members of the armed forces with a minimum of one year’s service who had been in contact with the enemy, or to those who, when mentioned for war merit, received a promotion.
If an act of valour was deemed insufficient for the Medal of Military Valour, the War Merit Cross could be awarded instead.
From its institution until 30 May 1927, 1,034,924 Crosses were issued.
The Italian War Merit Cross Design
The War Merit Cross is made in bronze, it measures 38mm wide (1-1/2 inches) and has a blue ribbon. A second award was indicated by a bronze star on the ribbon. The reverse side of the medal bears a 5-pointed star on a background of rays, and the obverse shows the royal cypher (“VE III” under a crown) in the upper arm, with the words “MERITO DI GVERRA” (War Merit) on the horizontal arms and a Roman sword point upwards, on oak leaves, in the lower arm.
