- Time Period: World War II
- Institution: 21 April 1948
- Country: Italy
The Medal for Volunteers of the War 1940-45 (or Volontario di Guerra 1940-45 in Italian) was instituted on 21 April 1948.
This medal, with a different ribbon and referred to as The Merit Medal for Crossing Enemy Lines after 8 September 1943, was also awarded to those that crossed enemy lines into Allied liberated territory before 8 September 1943 and put themselves at the disposal of the Italian National Government.
The Medal for Volunteers of the War 1940-45 Design
The official medal’s reverse has the inscription “VOLONTARIO DI GVERRA MCMXL-MCMXLV“. A type with the years in Arabic figures has also been reported to exist.
This medal can be found on different ribbons. The original decree stipulates the claret ribbon as for the WW1 Volunteer’s Medal but two other ribbons are known to exist (although they are considered unofficial). Both are purple, one with a center of four green and three red stripes, the other with three green and two red stripes in the middle. They both incorporate the War Commemorative Medal’s color scheme.
